Structure and magnetic properties of Co chains on a stepped Cu surface

Abstract

Magnetic moments and the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) are calculated for Co chains on a stepped Cu(111) surface in a fully relaxed geometry. The Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker Green’s function method is used to determine parameters of N-body interatomic potentials and to fit the semi-empirical tight-binding electronic Hamiltonian. The strain relief at steps and in the Co chains is demonstrated to have a profound effect on the morphology of the substrate. Atomic relaxations are shown to decrease the magnetic moments and the MAE. The MAE and orbital moments are found to exhibit an oscillatory behavior with increasing size of the chains. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version) 1.