Spin configuration of Gd clusters and thin films (abstract)
- Physics Department, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia (United States)
- Moscow State Engineering Physics Institute, Moscow (Russia)
Studies of the magnetism and structure of Gd clusters and surfaces will be presented. The spin configuration of a Gd{sub 13} cluster and the Gd(0001) surface has been examined using electronic structure calculations as well as a Heisenberg model. Structural calculations show that the ground-state geometry of the cluster has a hcp arrangement with a slightly reduced nearest-neighbor distance compared to bulk and an average moment of 7.8 {mu}{sub B}/atom. The Heisenberg model is calculated using a Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida-like interaction. The effects of competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling for the nearest- and next-nearest neighbor interaction, respectively, is investigated. It is shown that for a range of interaction strengths the spins in the cluster assume a canted configuration. This effect leads to lower net magnetization of the cluster, and accounts for the anomalous low moments of Gd{sub n} clusters that have been experimentally observed. A similar model of the Gd(0001) surface agrees well with earlier spin resolved low-energy electron diffraction experiments from Gd/W(110), and spin resolved secondary electron spectroscopy studies of the surface magnetism of Gd grown on Y(0001) will be presented. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 544307
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-961141--
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 81; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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