Abstract
It is shown that by ‘stacking’ together a semi-infinite sample subsystem with a semi-infinite tip subsystem, difficulties with respect to a common Fermi level for the whole system can approximately be overcome in all those cases when the substrate (serving as lead) and the second lead are different materials. Based on this procedure by means of the spin-polarized (fully) relativistic screened Korringa–Kohn–Rostocker method and an equivalent Kubo equation, theoretical spin-polarized STM spectra for Pt(111)/Co n /Cr15 W22/Cu(111) with respect to an applied external magnetic field are evaluated in terms of difference conductivities as a function of the corresponding free energy. These spectra are interpreted using layer-resolved contributions to the difference conductivities in order to indicate which parts of the sample dominate changes in the tunneling current caused by changing the orientation of the magnetization. Also shown are estimates of the time-scales to switch from perpendicular to in-plane and vice versa. All investigated properties suggest that different situations apply when the number of Co layers on top of Pt(111) is increased from one to three.
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