Magnetic anisotropy and lattice strain in Co/Pt multilayers

Journal Article · Sat May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Applied Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.352696· OSTI ID:6678843

Zhang, B; Krishnan, K M ^[1]; Lee, C H; Farrow, R F.C. ^[2]

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1. Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
2. IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, California 95120 (United States)

The correlation is reported between perpendicular anisotropy and in-plane lattice strain in Co/Pt multilayers. (Co[sub [ital x]]/Pt[sub [ital y]])[sub [ital n]] samples, where [ital x], [ital y] are the thickness of the individual Co and Pt layers and [ital n] is the number of repeats that were prepared by molecular beam epitaxy and studied by means of polar magneto-optic Kerr effect and transmission electron microscopy. Kerr rotation data and electron diffraction experiments show that the largest perpendicular anisotropy and square hysteresis loop occur when [ital x]=3 A while the Pt layers are subjected to about [minus]2% in-plane strain. As Co thickness increases, Co and Pt layers gradually lose coherency and the magnetic anisotropy goes from perpendicular to planar. This is accompanied by a relaxation of lattice strain in both Co and Pt layers. The close relationship between magnetic anisotropy and lattice strain can be explained as magnetoelastic anisotropy or stress anisotropy effect due to lattice mismatch between the adjacent epitaxial layers.

• OSTI ID: 6678843
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States) Vol. 73:10; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
COBALT
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
EPITAXY
KERR EFFECT
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
METALS
MICROSCOPY
MOLECULAR BEAM EPITAXY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
SCATTERING
STRAINS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY