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Strong magnetic surface anisotropy of ultrathin Fe on curved Pt(111).

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B
We investigate the step decoration growth and magnetic properties of Fe grown on a curved Pt(111) single crystal by means of low-energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, and the surface magneto-optical Kerr effect. We find that the step-induced magnetic anisotropy enhances the Curie temperature of Fe ultrathin films. Fe grown on high-vicinal-angle surfaces has larger values of both the saturation magnetization M{sub s} and coercivity H{sub c} compared with the flat surface. M{sub s}({alpha}) increases quadratically with the vicinal angle {alpha}. The atomic steps of the vicinal surface greatly affect the magnetic properties of ultrathin Fe films. Finally we find that the step-induced surface anisotropy K{sub s}({alpha}) is proportional to {alpha}{sup 4}. The surface anisotropy of Fe on curved Pt(111) substrate is related to the numbers of atoms at the step edges and the polarization of proximal Pt atoms.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
SC
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1002230
Report Number(s):
ANL/MSD/JA-68841
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B, Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B Journal Issue: Jan. 2008 Vol. 77; ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

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