Atomically resolved magnetic structure of a Gd-Au surface alloy

The magnetic structure of a monolayer-thick GdAu2 surface alloy on Au(111) has been investigated down to the atomic level by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Spin-resolved tunneling spectroscopy combined with density-functional theory calculations reveal the local spin polarization of both Gd and Au atomic sites within the surface alloy. Moreover, the impact of dislocation lines on the atomic-scale magnetic structure as well as on the local coercive field strength is demonstrated.

通过自旋极化扫描隧道显微镜，对Au(111)上单层厚的GdAu₂表面合金的磁结构进行了原子级的研究。自旋分辨隧道谱结合密度泛函理论计算，揭示了表面合金内Gd和Au原子位点的局域自旋极化。此外，还展示了位错线对原子尺度磁结构以及局域矫顽场强的影响。