Induced spin polarization in V:FenVm superlattices and thin V films on Fe substrates

The spin polarization at the (100) and (110) Fe/V interfaces is investigated using the tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method. For both FenVm superlattices and thin V-m films on Fe substrates we consider epitaxial growth of V with in-plane interatomic distance equal to that of Fe and out-of-plane interatomic distance fitted to recover the volume of V bulk. We obtain a short-range induced spin polarization in V, as well as reduced Fe polarization at the Fe/V interface. In FenVm superlattices. V couples always antiferromagnetically with Fe. For thin V films grown on Fe(100) the V polarization presents oscillations (layered antiferromagnetic configuration). The magnetic moments of V and Fe depend on the crystallographic orientation of the sample. Our results are compared with the existing experimental observations. [S0163-1829(99)03521-3].