Correlation of structure and magnetism of ultrathin Co films on Pd(001) prepared by thermal and pulsed laser deposition

Journal Article · Sun Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.76.035425· OSTI ID:20946398

Meyerheim, H L; Przybylski, M; Ernst, A; Shi, Y; Henk, J; Soyka, E; Kirschner, J ^[1]

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1. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle (Germany)

We present a combined experimental and theoretical analysis of the atomic structure and the magnetic properties of 1- and 2-monolayer (ML)-thick Co films on Pd(001) grown by thermal deposition (TD) and pulsed laser deposition (PLD). While surface x-ray diffraction measurements show that the geometric structures of the as-deposited samples differ depending on the deposition method (alloy formation for PLD versus epitaxial growth for TD), magneto-optic Kerr-effect loops indicate an in-plane easy magnetization axis independent of the preparation method. Annealing at 600 K induces a reorientation of the easy magnetization axis from in-plane to out of plane. This goes in parallel with substantial structural reorganization, leading to a Co/Pd multilayer structure with a top Pd layer. In agreement with experiments, fully relativistic Kohn-Korringa-Rostoker calculations including experimentally derived structural relaxations and disorder predict in-plane magnetization for the as-grown samples and out-of-plane magnetization for the annealed 2 ML sample characterized by an (incomplete) Pd/Co/Pd/Co/Pd(001) layer sequence. However, in-plane magnetization for the 1 ML Pd/Co/Pd(001) sandwich is theoretically predicted. Our study emphasizes the decisive importance of structural order, relaxation, and interface contribution to the magnetic anisotropy energy.

• OSTI ID: 20946398
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 76, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.76.035425; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANISOTROPY
ANNEALING
COBALT
ENERGY BEAM DEPOSITION
EPITAXY
FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
KERR EFFECT
LASER RADIATION
LAYERS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETIZATION
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
PULSED IRRADIATION
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
RELAXATION
SURFACES
THIN FILMS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION