High-resolution x-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements of the conduc
tion bands of dilute noble metal/Co metastable alloy films show a narrowing
of the noble-metal d bands at concentrations below 6 at. % of noble metal
consistent with coordination of the noble metal atoms with Co. Such alloyin
g contrasts strongly with Ag and Au precipitation at higher concentrations,
and with conventional metallurgical experience. It is consistent, however,
with recent observations of modified interlayer exchange coupling in magne
tic trilayer structures doped with noble-metal atoms. [S0163-1829(99)05124-
3].