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Symmetry-Induced Magnetic Anisotropy in Fe Films Grown on Stepped Ag(001)

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

Symmetry breaking at atomic steps of ultrathin Fe films grown on stepped Ag(001) substrates creates a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with the easy axis parallel to the step edges. The relation between this induced anisotropy and the step density is systematically investigated by magneto-optically scanning films grown on a curved substrate with a vicinal angle range between 0{degree} and 10{degree}. We find that (a) the uniaxial anisotropy depends quadratically on the step density, and (b) the spin-reorientation transition occurs at a larger thickness for the stepped than for the flat film. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
383900
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 77; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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