Step-induced magnetic anisotropy in vicinal Ni/Cu(001) and its effect on the spin-reorientation transition

Journal Article · Mon Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 2000 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.3235· OSTI ID:20215330

Bovensiepen, U ^[1]; Choi, Hyuk J ^[2]; Qiu, Z Q ^[2]

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1. Institut fuer Experimentalphysik, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin-Dahlem, (Germany)
2. Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

Ultrathin Ni films are grown on stepped Cu(001) in 0 degree sign -10 degree sign range of the vicinal angle. Spin-reorientation transition (SRT) of these films is studied in situ using surface magneto-optical Kerr effect. The SRT thickness is invariant up to 7 degree sign vicinal angle. Adsorption of submonolayer Co at the Ni step edges, however, increases significantly the SRT thickness. The results are quantitatively reproduced by a simple phenomenological model considering the presence of step-induced anisotropy. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.

• OSTI ID: 20215330
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 61; ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANISOTROPY
COBALT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
KERR EFFECT
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
NICKEL
SPIN ORIENTATION
THEORETICAL DATA
THIN FILMS