Spin reorientation of ultrathin Fe/Cu(100) films driven by the redistribution of Co adatoms

Journal Article · Mon Mar 18 23:00:00 EST 2002 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.65.132408· OSTI ID:829150

Pierce, J P ^[1]

---

1. ORNL

Two reorientations of the easy axis of magnetization of Co-capped Fe/Cu(100) ultrathin films can be driven simply by changing the spatial arrangement of the Co atoms. This rearrangement is achieved by annealing and cooling the capped films before each magnetic measurement. Scanning tunneling microscopy images and ab initio calculations indicate that the first transition, a spin flop from the perpendicular to the in-plane direction, results from increasing the average Co island size. Further measurements and ab initio studies show that the reemergence of perpendicular magnetization, which occurs at higher annealing temperatures, is likely to be due to alloying at the Fe-Co interface.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 829150
• Report Number(s): P01-111710
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 65; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COPPER
IRON
SPIN ORIENTATION
THIN FILMS