Non-collinear magnetism of Cr nanostructures on Fe$_{3ML}$/Cu(001): first--principles and experimental investigations

Abstract: A combined experimental, using X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism and theoretical investigation, using full-potential Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) Green function method, is carried out to study the spin structure of small magnetic Cr adatom--clusters on the surface of 3 monolayers of $fcc$ Fe deposited on Cu(001). The exchange interaction between the different Cr adatoms as well as between the Cr atoms and the Fe atoms is of antiferromagnetic nature and of comparable magnitude, leading due to frustration to complex non-collinear magnetic configurations. The presence of non-collinear magnetic coupling obtained by {\it ab initio} calculations is confirmed by the experimental results.