Interface magnetization: Cu films on Ni(100)

Abstract

Results of a self-consistent tight-binding calculation for one and two atomic layers of Cu on ferromagnetic Ni(100) show a Cu-induced moment reduction of about 0.33 and ${0.13}_{{\mu }_B}$ per atom in the first and second Ni layers, respectively. The Cu $d$ orbitals play almost no role. Even a single layer of Cu gives an almost ideal (surface-insensitive) interface behavior in the Ni, so spin-polarized interface states should be easily observable by photoemission.