Spin resolved photoemission study of Co(0001) films

Abstract

Thin ferromagnetic films are of great practical interest as they can exhibit a different magnetic behaviour compared to the bulk crystals due to, e.g., the surface anisotropy. The electronic and magnetic properties of thin cobalt films evaporated on W(110) have been investigated by means of angle and spin resolving photoelectron spectroscopy. The study was focused on electron spin polarization, spin resolved intensities and band structure behaviour in dependence of film thickness, excitation energy, and photoelectron detection angle. In order to interpret the experimental results, we have performed relativistic band structure calculations for the Co(0001) surface. The observed agreement between experiment and theory turns out to be very satisfactory.