QUANTUM-WELL-DRIVEN MAGNETISM IN THIN-FILMS

We have performed local spin-density calculations for an fee (100) Ag substrate covered by 1 to 16 monolayers (ML) of Pd. We find that thin films of Pd are magnetic with a moment of the order of 0.3 mu(B) excep t for films of 1-2 ML and 5-7 ML where magnetism is completely suppres sed. We present a physically transparent explanation of this behavior in terms of the Stoner picture and magnetic quantum-well states.