Experimental and theoretical analysis of magnetic moment enhancement in oxygen-deficient EuO

M. Barbagallo, N. D.M. Hine, J. F.K. Cooper, N. J. Steinke, A. Ionescu, C. H.W. Barnes, C. J. Kinane, R. M. Dalgliesh, T. R. Charlton, S. Langridge

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Abstract

We have carried out both experimental and theoretical studies of the magnetic properties of thin films of oxygen-deficient EuO. Accurate control of the oxygen vacancy concentration in these films was achieved by sputter codeposition of Eu and Eu2 O3. The films were characterized by superconducting quantum interference device, x-ray reflectometry and polarized neutron reflectometry and the magnetic moment was found to increase monotonically with oxygen vacancy concentration. The electronic structure of EuO1-x was calculated using density-functional theory (DFT+U). In agreement with previous studies, these calculations show that oxygen vacancies act as n -type dopants in EuO and that the excess electrons preferentially populate the majority spin branch of the spin-polarized conduction band. The observed increase in the magnetic moment originating from these excess electrons was accurately determined experimentally and found to be in good agreement with our quantitative predictions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number235216
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume81
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 29 2010
Externally publishedYes

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