SPIN DYNAMICS AND SPIN-POLARIZED EELS SPECTRA OF MODEL ITINERANT-ELECTRON MAGNETIC-FILMS

The spin excitations of model itinerant-electron ferromagnetic and ant iferromagnetic ultrathin films are studied theoretically. The discussi on is based on the one-band Hubbard model, treated in mean-held theory . A description of the spin excitations is generated by means of the r andom-phase approximation. We find both the low-lying collective modes (spin waves) and the spectrum of Stoner excitations. We also compute the spin-polarized electron-energy-loss scattering (SPELLS) spectra fo r our model films. The applications of SPEELS to the study of magnetic excitations at surfaces is discussed.