Exchange coupling and spin structure in cobalt-on-chromia thin films

Cobalt-chromia interface exchange interactions in the Co-on-Cr 2 O 3 (0001) system are investigated. Density-functional theory predicts the exchange coupling at the interface to be antiferromagnetic, in agreement with earlier experimental results. The spin-polarized photoemission spectra reveal both perpendicular and in-plane magnetization components, in the cobalt adlayer on chromia. A magnetization canted with respect to the surface normal, inferred from the presence of remnant spin polarization both in the plane of the cobalt film and along the surface normal may be understood as a micromagnetic canting effect involving magnetostatic self-interaction and exchange coupling between Co and Cr 2 O 3 .