The electronic structure at the Ni/Co interface has been characterized usin
g differences in L-2,L-3 x-ray-absorption spectra (XAS) recorded before and
after deposition of Ni overlayers on Co films. Strong changes in the Co an
d Ni absorption spectra suggest a high degree of d-charge redistribution be
tween the Co and Ni d states for submonolayer coverages of Ni. X-ray magnet
ic circular dichroism shows that the change in the d-state occupancies resu
lts in an increased Co spin moment and a reduced Ni spin moment. The effect
s are interpretted in terms of a modified exchange splitting of the Ni and
Co d bands determined using line-shape analysis of Co XAS. The results are
compared with the predictions of first-principles band-structure calculatio
ns invoking the local spin-density approximation.