Oxygen contribution to the magnetic response of ultrathin Fe/Ni multilayers grown on Fe-p(1 × 1)O

We investigated the magnetic behaviour of an Fe overlayer on a Ni buffer layer (Fe/Ni multilayer system) grown top Fe-p(1 × 1)O surface, with particular focus modifications observed in spin-resolved electronic structure and role oxygen, introduced system well-defined amount at substrate preparation stage. The structural properties are by means low energy electron diffraction, that confirms formation epitaxial featuring metastable surface lattice. Spin-resolved photoemission spectroscopy testifies strong decrease spectral spin polarization for increasing thickness layer, reaching minimum from nominal 6 atomic layers. Surprisingly, growth single is sufficient to restore most original signal, thus creating ultrathin bcc film seemingly decoupled substrate. Ab initio calculations track moments layers quench upon deposition additional growth. inverse highlights notable reduction density majority states just above Fermi level, possibly influencing response system.