Magnetic properties of thin MnGe films investigated by magnetic force microscopy

Magnetic force microscopy has been used to study MnxGe1-x/Ge(100) films grown at 433 K as a function of Mn concentration. Imaging has been performed at room temperature and in zero magnetic field. Magnetic domains with a magnetization direction normal to the surface have been detected for x = 0.027 and 0.044. No clearcut magnetic effect has been observed for x = 0.053. Scanning tunneling microscopy has been used to investigate their morphology. (C) 2003 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved