Magnetic interactions of supported magnetic clusters

TL;DR

This paper presents a real-space method to analyze magnetic interactions in nano-sized supported clusters, revealing complex non-collinear magnetic orderings that differ from bulk behaviors, emphasizing the importance of ab initio calculations.

Contribution

The authors develop a real-space formalism for calculating non-collinear magnetization structures and exchange interactions in supported magnetic clusters, highlighting their complex magnetic behaviors.

Findings

Magnetic clusters exhibit predominantly non-collinear ordering.

Simple Heisenberg models are insufficient for nano-sized magnets.

Ab initio non-collinear calculations are essential for accurate analysis.

Abstract

It is demonstrated that the magnetic interactions can be drastically different for nano-sized systems compared to those of bulk or surfaces. Using a real-space formalism we have developed a method to calculate non-collinear magnetization structures and hence exchange interactions. Our results for magnetic clusters supported on a Cu(111) surface show that the magnetic ordering as a rule is non-collinear and can not always be described using a simple Heisenberg Hamiltonian. We suggest that ab initio calculations allowing for non-collinear coupling between atomic spins is the best tool for analyzing nano-sized magnets.