The magnetic anisotropy of monatomic Fe films on Pd(001) with or without a Pd overlayer was investigated from the standpoint of interface atomic structures. Quantitative analysis included low-energy electron diffraction and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments, and first-principles calculations were also performed on monatomic Fe and Pd/Fe systems. It was revealed that Fe atoms intermix with the Pd substrate at room temperature. A spin reorientation transition occurs at a critical Fe thickness of 1.2 monolayers (ML) in Fe/Pd(001), while in-plane magnetic anisotropy is persistent in Pd/Fe/Pd(001) throughout the entire sample. The Fe 3$d$ spin and orbital magnetic moments for both systems are strongly enhanced near 1 ML Fe thickness, as compared to those of the bulk iron crystal. In addition, an induced magnetic moment in interfacial Pd atoms was observed by XMCD at the Pd $M_{2,3}$ core absorption edges. It was concluded that the $L{1}_0$-like tetragonally distorted interface atomic structure in monatomic Fe/Pd(001) induces the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

• Received 15 April 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.224406