Gd(0001): A semi-infinite three-dimensional heisenberg ferromagnet with ordinary surface transition

By comparing the surface and bulk magnetization of smooth, well-ordered Gd samples, we show that the surface has an ordinary transition, i.e., a common Curie temperature for surface and bulk. A quantitative statistical analysis of the temperature dependent magnetization is presented. Critical exponents for both surface, beta(S) = 0.83+/-0.04, and bulk, beta(B) = 0.376+/-0.015, are consistent with the semi-infinite three-dimensional Heisenberg model with homogeneous exchange.