Surface spin waves of fcc cobalt films on Cu(100): High-resolution spectra and comparison to theory

J. Rajeswari, H. Ibach, C. M. Schneider, A. T. Costa, D. L. R. Santos, and D. L. Mills
Phys. Rev. B 86, 165436 – Published 22 October 2012

Abstract

With the help of a recently developed electron energy-loss spectrometer we have studied the surface spin waves on an eight-monolayer cobalt film deposited on Cu(100) surfaces with unprecedented energy resolution. Standing waves of the bulk of the film are discovered in the region of small wave vectors q<0.35 Å1. The dispersion of surface spin waves is isotropic even for large q. Because of the high-energy resolution and the complete characterization of the electron optical properties of the spectrometer reliable data for the linewidth of the surface spin waves are obtained. As a byproduct the dispersion of the Rayleigh surface phonon was measured. Data are compared to theoretical spin wave spectra extracted from calculations of the transverse spin susceptibility based on an ab initio electronic structure that incorporates both the metallic substrate and the magnetic film. The calculation takes fully into account the itinerant nature of the electrons responsible for the magnetic moments. The agreement between theoretical and experimental spin wave energies and linewidths is remarkably good.

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  • Received 12 May 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.86.165436

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. Rajeswari1,3, H. Ibach2,3, C. M. Schneider1,3, A. T. Costa4, D. L. R. Santos4, and D. L. Mills5,*

  • 1Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
  • 2Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
  • 3Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, Germany
  • 4Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, 24210-346 Niterói, R. J., Brazil
  • 5Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA

  • *Deceased.

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Issue

Vol. 86, Iss. 16 — 15 October 2012

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