Oscillatory behavior of the magnetic moments of gold-covered iron surfaces

Local magnetic moments at iron (001) surfaces have been studied by electronic structure calculations employing the slab geometry up to 17 layers. Whereas the clean Fe(001) surface shows oscillations in the local magnetic moments, no oscillations were observed in the case of coverage by a monolayer of gold, in sharp contrast with the gold/iron multilayer system, where they reappear. The screening effect of the oscillatory behavior on Fe(001) surfaces is very local: Fe(001) surface covered with a submonolayer of gold shows oscillations for the noncovered parts of the surfaces.