Abstract
Using density-functional theory we investigate the energetics of various diffusion processes relevant for the heteroepitaxial growth of Co on Cu(001). We focus on how the barrier height depends on the local coordination, the interaction with the substrate and spin-polarization. We determine the temperature at which the different atomistic processes are activated and discuss their implications for the growth morphology. In particular, atomic exchange divides the temperature scale into two distinct regions: At lower temperatures growth proceeds similar to the homoepitaxial case, above the activation temperature of exchange a qualitatively different bimodal surface morphology evolves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J.A. Venables: In The Chemical Physics of Solid Surfaces, Vol. 8, D.A. King, D.P. Woodruff (Eds.) (Elsevier Science, Amsterdam 1997); J.A. Venables, G.D. Spiller, M. Hanbucken: Rep. Prog. Phys. 47, 399 (1984)
H. Brune: Surf. Sci. Rep. 31, 121 (1998)
J. Fassbender, R. Allenspach, U. Dürig: Surf. Sci. 383, 742 (1997)
F. Nouvertné, U. May, M. Bamming, A. Rampe, U. Korte, G. Güntherodt, R. Pentcheva, M. Scheffler: Phys. Rev. B 60, 14382 (1999)
R. Pentcheva, M. Scheffler, K. Fichthorn, T. Bernhard, R. Pfandzelter, H. Winter: Phys. Rev. Lett 90, 076101 (2003)
P. Blaha, K. Schwarz, J. Luitz: WIEN97, A Full Potential Linearized Augmented Plane Wave Package for Calculating Crystal Properties, (Karl-Heinz Schwarz, Techn. Univ. Wien, Vienna 1999) ISBN 3-9501031-0-4 Updated version of P. Blaha et al. Comp. Phys. Commun. 59, 399 (1990)
J.P. Perdew, K. Burke, M. Ernzerhof: Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 3865 (1996)
R. Pentcheva, M. Scheffler: Phys. Rev. B 61, 2211 (2000)
B. Kohler, S. Wilke, M. Scheffler, R. Kouba, C. Ambrosch-Draxl: Comp. Phys. Commun. 94, 31 (1996)
G. Boisvert, L.J. Lewis: Phys. Rev. B 56, 7643 (1997)
J.J. de Miguel, J. Ferrón, S. Ferrer: Surf. Sci. 189–190, 1062 (1987)
H.J. Ernst, F. Fabre, J. Lapujoulade: Phys. Rev. B 46, 1929 (1992)
M. Breeman, D.O. Boerma: Surf. Sci. 269–270, 224 (1992)
H. Dürr, J.F. Wendelken, J.-K. Zuo: Surf. Sci. 328, 527 (1995)
V.S. Stepanyuk, D.I. Bazhanov, A.N. Baranov, W. Hergert, A.A. Katznelson, P.H. Dederichs, J. Kirschner: Appl. Phys. A 72, 443 (2001)
B.D. Yu, M. Scheffler: Phys. Rev. B 55, 13916 (1997)
J.C. Girard, S. Gauthier, S. Rousset, W. Sacks, S. de Cheveigné, J. Klein: Surf. Sci. 301, 245 (1994)
Z.-J. Tian, T.S. Rahman: Phys. Rev. B 47, 9751 (1993)
R. Pentcheva: Theory of Adsorption, Diffusion and Growth of Cobalt on Cu(001), Ph.D. Thesis, FU Berlin (2000)
V.S. Stepanyuk, D.I. Bazhanov, W. Hergert, J. Kirschner: Phys. Rev. B 63, 153406 (2001)
M. Breeman, G. Rosenfeld, G. Comsa: Phys. Rev. B 54, 16440 (1996)
M. Baibich, J.M. Broto, A. Fert, F. Nguyen Van Dau, F. Petroff, P. Eitenne, G. Creuzet, A. Friederich, J. Chazelas: Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2472 (1988)
G. Binasch, P. Grünberg, F. Saurenbach, W. Zinn: Phys. Rev. B 39, 4828 (1989)
P. Grünberg, R. Schreiber, Y. Pang, M.B. Brodsky, H. Sowers: Phys. Rev. Lett. 57, 2442 (1986)
S.S.P. Parkin, N. More, K.P. Roche: Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 2304 (1990)
S.S.P. Parkin: Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 3598 (1991)
S. van Dijken: Pattern Formation and Magnetic Anisotropy in Thin Metal Films, Ph.D. Thesis, FU Berlin (2000)
T. Bernhard, R. Pfandzelter, H. Winter: Nucl. Instrum. Meth. B 203, 111 (2003)
H. Li, B.P. Tonner: Surf. Sci. 237, 141 (1990)
J.R. Cerda, P.L. de Andres, A. Cebollada, R. Miranda, E. Navas, P. Schuster, C.M. Schneider, J. Kirschner: J. Phys.: Condens. Matt. 5, 2055 (1993)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
PACS
68.55.-a; 68.36.Fx; 75.70.Rf; 68.47.De; 71.15.Mb
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pentcheva, R. Ab initio study of microscopic processes in the growth of Co on Cu(001). Appl. Phys. A 80, 971–975 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-004-3124-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-004-3124-x