Exchange interactions of quench-condensed vanadium atoms on metal surfaces

In situ studies of quench-condensed V atoms on Pb, Al, Au, and Ag substrates show that V atoms form isolated magnetic moments for an average thickness d{}0.03 monolayer (ML). For d{}0.03 ML antiferromagnetic coupling between V atoms is detected and increases. At d{}1.5 ML the interaction becomes predominantly ferromagnetic. On Au and Ag surfaces the moment is comparable to that of an isolated Fe atom, whereas on Pb or Al the moment is less by a factor of about 7.