Layer- and component-resolved magnetic moments and anisotropy energies in (FexCo1-x)(n)/Cu(100)

The magnetic moments in the (FexCo1-x)(n)/Cu(100) system are calculated and shown for 2 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 7 and x = 0.9 as resolved with respect to layers and components. While, as reported previou sly, in the ground state antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling between buri ed Fe layers occurs, surprisingly, also antiferromagnetic Go-Co and Fe-Co i nterlayer coupling is found. However, by assuming only ferromagnetic neares t-neighbour Fe-Co and Go-Co interactions on top of the dominating antiferro magnetic Fe-Fe nearest-neighbour interactions, it is revealed that a simple Ising model is consistent with the results of the self-consistent calculat ions. When analysing also the layer- and component-like band energy contrib utions to the magnetic anisotropy energy, remarkably different behaviour fo r the Fe and Co contributions can be seen.