MAGNETIC AND ELECTRONIC-PROPERTIES OF AU/FE SUPERLATTICES AND INTERFACES

The electronic and magnetic structure of AunFe(100) superlattices and interfaces are investigated with the layer Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker technique. Enhanced magnetism, over that of bulk bcc Fe, is observed on the Fe layer in all geometries studies. In the supercell geometry the magnetic moment decreases as the number of mediating Au layers is increased, reaching the same asymptotic value as obtained in the interface calculation. These results can be understood in terms of very weak Fe-Au coupling in these systems. The Fe minority-hole states are mainly d states with character orthogonal to the Fe plane, suggesting a tendency for out-of-plane (perpendicular) magnetic anisotropy.