Step-induced unusual magnetic properties of ultrathin Co/Cu films: ab initio study

A. V. Smirnov; A. M. Bratkovsky

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.54.R17371

Step-induced unusual magnetic properties of ultrathin Co/Cu films: ab initio study

Condensed Matter 2009-10-28 v1

Authors: A. V. Smirnov , A. M. Bratkovsky

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Abstract

We have performed ab initio studies to elucidate the unusual magnetic behavior recently observed in epitaxial Co films upon absorption of submonolayers of Cu and other materials. We find that a submonolayer amount of Cu on a stepped Co/Cu (100) film changes dramatically the electronic and magnetic structure of the system. The effect is mainly due to hybridization of Co and Cu $d$ -electrons when copper forms a ``wire'' next to a Co step at the surface. As a result, a non-collinear arrangement of magnetic moments (switching of the easy axis) is promoted. [PACS 75.70.Ak,75.70.-i]

Keywords

ultrathin films magnetic anisotropy non-collinear magnetism ab initio study Co/Cu interfaces submonolayer adsorption electronic structure

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9608038,
  title  = {Step-induced unusual magnetic properties of ultrathin Co/Cu films: ab initio study},
  author = {A. V. Smirnov and A. M. Bratkovsky},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9608038},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

10 pages, RevTeX 3.0, 4 PostScript figures available on request from A. Bratkovsky at [email protected]

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