Polar Kerr-effect observation of perpendicular surface anisotropy for ultrathin ferromagnetic films: fcc Fe/Cu(100)

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.342406· OSTI ID:7017261

Liu, C; Moog, E R; Bader, S D

The theoretically predicted prependicular surface anisotropy of ultrathin ferromagnetic Fe films has been confirmed using the magneto-optical Kerr effect. Polar and longitudinal Kerr-effect measurements have been performed in situ on the same fcc Fe/Cu(100) films to study the dependence of the magnetic properties on film thickness and growth temperature conditions. Auxiliary LEED and Auger studies are used to characterize the structure and growth of the films. For films 1.2--5.9 monolayers (ML) thick grown at approx.100 K, for instance, square hysteresis-loop behavior in the polar Kerr effect confirmed the dominance of the perpendicular surface anisotropy. Examples are presented to document how the polar and longitudinal Kerr-effect signals evolve for films thicker than 6 ML due to the easy axis reorienting into the film plane. To differentiate between intrinsic temperature effects and those associated with interfacial compositional changes, the films were thermally cycled and their Kerr signals monitored. Films of thickness around 4 ML retained their characteristic polar Kerr-effect square loops despite thermal cycling between approx.100 and approx.400 K, while those <2 ML thick changed irreversibly. These studies confirm that intermixing can be limited to the monolayer range by low-temperature growth conditions, but the LEED results show that the degree of structural ordering of the films is reduced, as expected.

• Research Organization: Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439
• OSTI ID: 7017261
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 64:10; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals &amp; Alloys-- Physical Properties
ANISOTROPY
AUGER EFFECT
COHERENT SCATTERING
COPPER
CRYSTAL GROWTH METHODS
CRYSTAL LATTICES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CUBIC LATTICES
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
ELEMENTS
FCC LATTICES
FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
FILMS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYSTERESIS
IRON
KERR EFFECT
LAYERS
LOW TEMPERATURE
MAGNETIC MATERIALS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MATERIALS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
SUBSTRATES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ULTRAHIGH VACUUM