The magnetic properties of thin films of magnetic metals are to be investigated by susceptibility, photoemission, and surface scanning microscopy. The cooperative magnetic behavior of these films depend on their thickness, a few atomic layers, and the specific chemical compositions of the films. Of particular interest is the magnetic anisotropy in the films. This can be tuned by alloying the 3d ferromagnets iron, cobalt and nickel with nonmagnetic elements. The epitaxial film compositions are not stable in bulk materials, but can be stabilized in the thin film geometry. The magnetic properties of the thin films change dramatically with the composition, which can be varied over wide ranges. Thus materials that originally ferromagnetic can be tuned to spin glass or other magnetic order by changing the composition.
