Spin-dependent electronic structure and theoretical SP-STM images for Co(0001) film

Using a first-principles calculation, we have studied the electronic and spin structures of a Co(0001) film. We show that the spin densities as well as charge densities within a energy interval below or above the Fermi energy are quite different. It is expected that one can obtain different spin-polarized (SP) STM images for positive and negative bias voltages. It is found that the spin polarization in the vacuum is negative for the energy intervals considered.