Spin-Polarization in Ultrathin Rh Layers on Fe (001)

The origin of the Rh polarization at the interface with Fe is discussed within a self-consistent mean-field parameterized tight-binding model. Since experimentally it is not yet known how Rh grows on Fe(001), in this paper we consider both fee and bcc growth. When Rh grows in the fee structure, it expands its lattice parameter and a polarization is present up to 3 layers, whereas in the bcc case only the Rh atoms at the interface are polarized. The results obtained are compared to recent spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. Good agreement with experiment is obtained in the case of a fee Rh configuration.