Magnetic anisotropy of an impurity in a semi-infinite host

We investigate the interaction of a magnetic (Fe) impurity with the surface of a nonmagnetic (Au) semi-infinite host on the bases of fully relativistic spin-polarized first principles calculations. We show that the surface induces a magnetic anisotropy on the impurity, however, it is questionable whether the anisotropy coupling constant K is sufficiently large to explain the thickness dependence of the Kondo amplitude B in thin films of dilute FecAu1-c alloys. We also find that K(d) is an oscillating function of the distance d between the impurity and the surface with an amplitude which falls as 1/d(2) and a period which is determined by the shape of the Fermi surface of the bulk Au host.