New magnetic order in buried native iron oxide layers.

The properties of a magnetically ordered buried Fe oxide layer are presented. This oxide has a room-temperature magnetization exceeding that of Fe3O4 by 42% and of gamma-Fe2O3 by 89%. The oxide consists of a component (70%) with a net moment of 2.0 micro(B)/Fe ion, while the remaining spins yield no net moment. The oxide magnetization is stabilized in part by the proximate Fe metal.