Overlayer-induced perpendicular anisotropy in ultrathin Co films (invited)

Journal Article · Sun May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Journal of Applied Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.355365· OSTI ID:7284255

Engel, B N; Wiedmann, M H; Falco, C M ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and the Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 (United States)

We have used [ital in] [ital situ] polar Kerr effect measurements to study the magnetic anisotropy of MBE-grown [ital X]/Co/[ital Y] trilayers, where [ital X] and [ital Y] are combinations of the nonmagnetic metals Ag, Au, Cu, or Pd. The competition between the perpendicular anisotropy of the initial underlayer [ital X]/Co interface and the in-plane shape anisotropy of the Co film allows us to adjust the total anisotropy of the uncovered Co to be in plane and of moderate strength. In this way, we can measure hard-axis (perpendicular) polar hysteresis curves [ital in] [ital situ] as a function of overlayer [ital Y] coverage, and directly deduce the anisotropy field. Polar hysteresis curves were measured [ital in] [ital situ] for systematically varied Co and overlayer [ital Y] layer thicknesses 2 A[le][ital t][sub Co][le]20 A and 0 A[le][ital t][sub [ital Y]][le]100 A. We find, for particular combinations, the magnitude of the [ital X]/Co/[ital Y] perpendicular anisotropy is strongly peaked at [similar to]1 atomic layer overlayer [ital Y] coverage.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-87ER45297
• OSTI ID: 7284255
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States), Vol. 75:10; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COBALT
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS
ANISOTROPY
COPPER
GOLD
HYSTERESIS
INTERFACES
KERR EFFECT
PALLADIUM
SILVER
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
FILMS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM METALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
360104* - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties