Exchange Splitting of a Hybrid Surface State and Ferromagnetic Order in a 2D Surface Alloy.

Surface alloys are highly flexible materials for tailoring the spin-dependent properties of surfaces. Here, we study the spin-dependent band structure of a DyAg$_2$ surface alloy formed on an Ag(111) crystal. We find a significant spin-splitting of the localized Dy 4f states and the formation of a parabolic hole-like Dy-Ag hybrid surface state with two exchange split spin branches. Our experimental findings are identified by density functional theory as clear spectroscopic fingerprints for a long range ferromagnetic order of the localized Dy moments which is mediated by an indirect exchange coupling by electrons via the hybrid surface state.