Antiferromagnetism at V/Co(001) interfaces

Recent studies of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at V/Co interfaces have determined the magnetic moments on V and Co atoms. The purpose of the present communication is to explain the strong induced polarization on V atoms in thin V layers deposited on Cu substrate and covered by Co atoms. Ab initio calculations performed with abrupt interfaces between Co and V do not lead to agreement with the XMCD results. Interfacial alloying between Co and V atoms increases greatly the moments on the interfacial V atoms and thus improves somewhat the agreement with the XMCD results.