Magnetic properties of deposited gadolinium atoms, dimers and their monoxides

Magnetic properties of gadolinium clusters deposited on magnetic ultrathin Fe/Cu(100) films have been measured using X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism spectroscopy (XMCD). 3d↦4f as well as 4d↦4f absorption spectra are presented and discussed. Changes in the relative peak intensities between the monomer, dimer and the corresponding monoxides are observed for the \(4d \to 4f~^8{\rm D}_{7/2}\) multiplets. The comparison with bulk measurements and calculations exhibit a transition from atomic like to bulk like properties.