The magnetic map at the V/Co interface

Abstract Huttel et al. (Phys. Rev. B 68 (2003) 174405) using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism have depicted an induced magnetic moment for V atoms deposited on FCC Co(0 0 1). In the present communication, we discuss the onset of magnetic polarization of very thin V films atop Co(0 0 1) within classical density functional theory. Both local density approximation and gradient corrected approaches are used. For one V monolayer on Co(0 0 1), a ferromagnetic coupling is obtained whereas for thicker V slabs, an antiferromagnetic-like behavior is shown to be the ground state. It is clearly shown that the Co-induced polarization on V atoms is short-ranged and mainly limited to the Co–V interface. A very different magnetic behavior is observed when alloying at the V/Co interface is present.