Surface and thickness effects in binary magnetic alloys: Possible surface phases and some other problems

Recent theoretical results concerning the magnetic properties of thin films and surfaces of binary alloys are reviewed. The surface properties are affected by surface enrichment (segregation), surface alloy ordering, and surface orientation with respect to the crystal axes (for monocrystalline alloys). Phase diagrams reveal surface magnetic phases induced by some of the above effects. The results suggest that surface magnetism can be a rather common phenomenon at the percolation threshold for magnetically diluted alloys. The experimental situation and possibilities are discussed concisely.