Experimental and theoretical study of the magnetic properties and XMCD spectra of Ru clusters deposited on Fe/Cu(001)

We present results of an experimental study of magnetic properties of small Ru clusters deposited on a thin Fe film grown on Cu(001) surface. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements show finite spin and orbital moments of Ru dimers and trimers, however a magnetic moment for a Ru monomer has been not observed. A corresponding theoretical study based on the fully relativistic multiple scattering KKR method is presented. Detailed theoretical analysis has been performed to explain the experimental findings. In particular a direct comparison of the calculated XMCD with the experiments suggests diffusion into the surface as a possible reason for the apparent quenching of the spin magnetic moment for Ru monomers.