Magnetic Properties of Thin Films Containing Itinerant Electrons Interacting with Localized Spins

Abstract

The model of ferromagnetism which can be considered as a generalization of the Heisenberg, Stoner, and modified Zener models is applied to the case of thin magnetic films. Calculations are presented within the frame of a Green function formalism of the magnetization distribution across the layer and the thickness dependence of the Curie temperature. The case of h.c.p. thin films with strong surface anisotropy in the high-temperature region has been discussed in detail.

Magnetic Properties of Thin Ferromagnetic Semiconducting Films

“…In such systems, for example, in ferromagnetic semiconductors (FMSs), in rare earth metals, in alloys or in intermetallic compounds containing transition metals, the indirect coupling between the localized moments and the itinerant electrons should be taken into account [19]. The magnetic properties of thin films containing itinerant electrons interacting with localized spins and the problem of interlayer coupling have been considered by Urbaniak-Kucharczyk [20]. Schiller and Nolting [31] have developed a procedure for calculating the magnetic properties of a ferromagnetic Heisenberg film with single-ion anisotropy, which is valid for arbitrary spin and film thickness.…”

Magnetic properties of thin films containing itinerant electrons interacting with localized spins. The problem of Interlayer exchange coupling

“…In the preceding section the problem of interlayer coupling between two monoatomic layers embedded in a nonmagnetic metal has been considered on the base of the usually made assumption that most of the coupling can be ascribed to the outmost magnetic planes [26,27]. However, some recent experimental data and theoretical predictions [17,24] indicate that the thickness of the magnetic films may play an important role, particularly in the range of ultrathin films.…”

Curie temperature of Kondo lattice films with finite itinerant charge carrier density

“…A similar system is also treated in Ref. 18 based on a method guided by the same spirit. However, the theory of the electronic subsystem there is on a mean-field level only and just nearest neighbor Heisenberg interaction is considered, in spite of the underlying RKKY-like exchange being long ranged.…”