Magnetism of Fe clusters embedded in a Co matrix from first-principles theory

Abstract

We have calculated spin and orbital moments for Fe clusters of sizes up to 700 atoms embedded as impurities in a bcc Co matrix. The calculations have been carried out using relativistic first-principles real-space density functional theory, and we have made a comparison with earlier experimental studies. For Fe atoms close to the $\mathrm{Fe}\mathrm{Co}$ interface, the spin moments are found to increase while atoms far from the interface exhibit bulklike moments. The Co moments remain essentially unchanged and close to the moment of bulk bcc Co. With increasing cluster size, the average moments of the cluster atoms decrease due to the decreased surface to volume ratio. The orbital moments of both Fe and Co are calculated to be small and they stay almost constant regardless of cluster size. Our results for spin moments agree with experimental data but the calculated orbital moments are slightly underestimated. A simplified model indicates that a compound of close-packed Fe clusters surrounded by Co show higher average total moments compared to bulk and multilayer systems with a similar concentration. This increase seems to disappear when cluster-cluster interactions are taken into account. The general trend is that for a given alloy concentration of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{x}{\mathrm{Co}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$, clustering tends to lower the average magnetic moment compared to that of ordered structures and random alloys.