Calculation of the magnetic properties of Co-N clusters on Pd(111)

The magnetic properties of Co-N clusters (N less than or equal to 7) deposi ted on Pd(111) have been determined in the framework of a self-consistent d -band model Hamiltonian. Results are given for the spin and orbital magneti c moments and for the magnetic anisotropy energy for different structures o f the Co-N clusters. We find that the magnetic orbital contribution to the total magnetic moment can be of the order of 20%. The magnetization directi on of Co-N changes in most cases from in-plane to off-plane upon deposition . We observe that the main contribution to the magnetic anisotropy energy r esults from the cluster-substrate interface. Comparison of the magnetic pro perties between deposited and free clusters is also provided. (C) 2000 Amer ican Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(00)67808-8].