Epitaxial growth and magnetic characterization of EuSe thin films with various crystalline orientations

We report different growth modes and corresponding magnetic properties of thin EuSe films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on BaF2, Pb1-xEuxSe, GaAs, and Bi2Se3 substrates. We show that EuSe grows predominantly in the (001) orientation on GaAs(111) and Bi2Se3, but along the (111) crystallographic direction on BaF2 (111) and Pb1-xEuxSe (111). High resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements reveal a sharp and highly crystalline interface for both (001) and (111) EuSe films. In agreement with previous studies, ordered magnetic phases include antiferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and ferromagnetic phases. In contrast to previous studies, we found a strong hysteresis of the antiferromagnetic-ferrimagnetic transition. The ability to grow epitaxial films of EuSe on Bi2Se3 and of Bi2Se3 on EuSe enables further investigation of interfacial exchange interactions between various phases of an insulating metamagnetic material and a topological insulator.

Automated summary

The study reports different growth modes and corresponding magnetic properties of thin EuSe films grown on various substrates. The ordered magnetic phases include antiferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and ferromagnetic phases. The strong hysteresis of the antiferromagnetic-ferrimagnetic transition is observed, and the ability to grow epitaxial films on different substrates enables further investigation of interfacial exchange interactions.