Step-induced magnetic anisotropy in vicinal Ni/Cu(001) and its effect on the spin-reorientation transition

U. Bovensiepen; Hyuk J. Choi; Z. Q. Qiu

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.61.3235

Step-induced magnetic anisotropy in vicinal Ni/Cu(001) and its effect on the spin-reorientation transition

U. Bovensiepen, Hyuk J. Choi, and Z. Q. Qiu

Phys. Rev. B 61, 3235 – Published 1 February 2000

Abstract

Ultrathin Ni films are grown on stepped Cu(001) in 0°–10° range of the vicinal angle. Spin-reorientation transition (SRT) of these films is studied in situ using surface magneto-optical Kerr effect. The SRT thickness is invariant up to 7° vicinal angle. Adsorption of submonolayer Co at the Ni step edges, however, increases significantly the SRT thickness. The results are quantitatively reproduced by a simple phenomenological model considering the presence of step-induced anisotropy.

Received 28 September 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.3235

Authors & Affiliations

U. Bovensiepen

Institut für Experimentalphysik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin-Dahlem, Germany
Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720

Hyuk J. Choi and Z. Q. Qiu

Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720

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Vol. 61, Iss. 5 — 1 February 2000

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