X-RAY CIRCULAR-DICHROISM OF THIN FE0.82V0.18 INTERLAYERS IN AU(111)

We present a magnetic circular X-ray dichroism study performed at room temperature at the V- and Fe-L(2,3) absorption edges of the Au/Fe0.82 V0.18/Au(111) system as a function of the thickness of the Fe-V alloy layer (3 to 6 atomic layers). We find that the 3d magnetic moment loca lized on the iron atoms does not change significantly as a function of the thickness of the alloy film. Although this moment is strongly red uced with respect to the one of bulk iron, its decomposition in spin a nd orbital contribution remains the same. The dichroic signals obtaine d at the V-L(2,3) edges prove that the 3d electronic states of vanadiu m carry a magnetic moment aligned antiparallel to the one of iron. The magnitude of the V-L(2,3) dichroic signal normalized to the intensity of the edge is independent on the alloy layer thickness, indicating t hat the 3d magnetic moment per V atom remains constant.