Structure of Fe layers grown on InAs 100/

We have studied the growth of Fe thin layers on In-terminated InAs 100.surfaces by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy XPS., Auger electron spectroscopy AES.and reflection high energy electron diffraction RHEED.. Islanding is observed at the early stages of Fe deposition, then the growing mechanism is layer-by-layer. In thicker films, iron atoms are arranged in an unstrained bcc structure with a lattice constant close to that of bulk a-Fe. Arsenic diffuses through the Fe layer within a typical diffusion length of around 7 A° . In turn, indium atoms remain at the interface. q2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.