Direct evidence for itinerant magnetite above and below the Verwey transition temperature

The valence electronic states of Fe3O4(111) films on Pt(111) were studied using temperature-dependent spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation. The majority- and minority-spin partial density of states (DOS) has been obtained at 300 X and 100 K, above and below the Verwey transition temperature (T-V similar to 120 K). The spectra still show substantial k-dependence at 100 K in the 3d region, This provides the most direct experimental evidence that the 3d electrons are itinerant even at T < T-V.