Induced magnetization in thin epitaxial V films on Fe (100)

Using spin-polarized secondary and Auger electron spectroscopy we find an induced magnetization in epitaxially grown V adlayers on Fe (100). Spin-dependent attenuation of the secondary electrons is quantitatively treated, following a model by Siegmann, to determine the adlayer magnetization. The first monolayer of V has a negative magnetic moment of -0.3±{}0.08μB per atom and thus couples antiferromagnetically to the Fe substrate. Subsequent V layers exhibit a positive magnetization. The reduction of the magnetization of Fe at the interface is found to be small. We determine an upper bound (Mbulk-Minterface)Mbulk<0.2 of the relative demagnetization of Fe upon V adsorption.