Transition from Pauli Paramagnetism to Band Ferromagnetism in Very Thin Ni Films

Abstract

Ni, Co, and Fe films of a few atomic layers are condensed in UHV at 10 K on metallic substrates. Anomalous-Hall-effect measurements are used to determine the magnetization and the susceptibility of the films. Ni films with a thickness smaller than two atomic layers possess no magnetic moment but show an enhanced susceptibility. Between two and three atomic layers of Ni the susceptibility diverges and thicker films possess a magnetic moment. For Co and Fe, the first monolayers already shows a magnetic moment.