title: Noncollinear surface spin density by surface reconstruction in the alloy NiMn.
abstract: At the (001) surface of the alloy Ni(50)Mn(50), a noncollinear spin density is observed in real space by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. The spin density of individual atoms also varies in both size and direction as a function of bias voltage, indicating a noncollinearity in the energy domain. The noncollinearity is driven by a surface reconstruction which breaks the otherwise high surface symmetry. First-principles electronic-structure calculations support the experimental observations and evidence the interplay of reconstruction and spin-orbit coupling.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winkelmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henk
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wulfhekel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirschner