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Phys. Rev. B 45 (1992) pp. 464-467

Interdiffusion and magnetism in Cu/Ni/Cu sandwiches

S. Crampin

Institute for Theoretical Physics, Catholic University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, NL-6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands

R. Monnier

Laboratorium für Festkörperphysik, ETH-Hönggerberg, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland

T. Schulthess

Institut für Angewandte Physik, ETH-Hönggerberg, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland

G.H. Schadler

Laboratorium für Festkörperphysik, ETH-Hönggerberg, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland

D.D. Vvedensky

The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom

Abstract
Results are presented for the magnetic-moment distribution in a (111) sandwich consisting originally of three perfect layers of nickel bounded on each side by a semi-infinite copper crystal, for different degrees of interdiffusion. The approach used is a combination of the recently developed layer Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method, with the multiple-scattering spin-polarised version of the coherent-potential-approximation. When applied to bulk homogeneous Cu_xNi_1-x, it yields average and Ni moments in excellent agreement with experiment. The sandwich geometry is found to favor magnetism at Ni concentrations far below the bulk critical value.