Magnetic coupling of surface adlayers: Gd on Fe(100)

Abstract

The magnetic ordering of very thin Gd layers on Fe(100) has been characterized with use of the element-specific magnetic resolving power of spin-polarized Auger spectroscopy. We find antiparallel coupling of Gd to the Fe substrate, and identify surface-specific temperature dependence of the Gd and Fe sublattice magnetizations. The magnetic correlation length in Gd above its ordering temperature is obtained.