Complex magnetism in ultra-thin films: atomic-scale spin structures and resolution by the spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope |
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Authors: | S Heinze P Kurz D Wortmann G Bihlmayer S Blügel |
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Institution: | Institut für Festk?rperforschung, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany, DE
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Abstract: | In this paper we present a density functional theory investigation of complex magnetic structures in ultra-thin films. The
focus is on magnetically frustrated antiferromagnetic Cr and Mn monolayers deposited on a triangular lattice provided by a
Ag (111) substrate. This involves non-collinear magnetic structures, which we treat by first-principles calculations on the
basis of the vector spin-density formulation of the density functional theory. We find for Cr/Ag (111) a coplanar non-collinear
periodic 120° Néel structure, for Mn/Ag (111) a row-wise antiferromagnetic structure, and for Fe/Ag (111) a ferromagnetic
structure as magnetic ground states. The spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope (SP–STM) operated in the constant-current
mode is proposed as a powerful tool to investigate complex atomic-scale magnetic structures of otherwise chemically equivalent
atoms. We discuss a recent application of this operation mode of the SP–STM on Mn/W (110), which led to the first observation
of a two-dimensional antiferromagnet on a non-magnetic metal. The future potential of this approach is demonstrated by calculating
SP–STM images for different magnetic structures of Cr/Ag (111). The results show that the predicted non-collinear magnetic
ground state structure can clearly be discriminated from competing magnetic structures. A general discussion of the application
of different operation modes of the SP–STM is presented on the basis of the model of Tersoff and Hamann.
Received: 07 May 2001 / Accepted: 23 July 2001 / Published online: 3 April 2002 |
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Keywords: | PACS: 68 37 E 75 70 75 30 |
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