Magnetic interactions between small Ni clusters Article uri icon

abstract

  • We have calculated the magnetic moment per atom, μ̄, of symmetric nickel cluster-dimers NiN-NiN as a function of cluster-cluster distance D and cluster size N. The spin-polarized electronic structure has been calculated with a self-consistent tight-binding method considering the 3d, 4s and 4p valence electrons. We have analyzed the partial sp and d contributions to μ̄. The d component shows a monotonic behavior and provides the dominant contribution to μ̄, whereas the sp contribution shows a non-monotonic (and complex) behavior as a function of the distance and of cluster size. The approaching clusters change their intrinsic magnetic moments at separations of the order of the bulk first nearest-neighbor distance dfn. For N = 5-7 there is a range of separations (1dfn-3dfn) where the cluster moments are slightly enhanced.

publication date

  • 2000-01-01