Magnetization Processes in Ultrathin Co Film Grown on Stepped Si(111) Substrate

Author

Stupakiewicz, Andrzej ; Fleurence, A. ; Maziewski, A. ; Maroutian, T. ; Gogol, P. ; Bartenlian, B. ; M?©gy, R. ; Beauvillain, P.

Author_Institution

Lab. of Magn., Univ. of Bialystok, Bialystok

Volume

44

Issue

11

fYear

2008

Firstpage

2887

Lastpage

2890

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to study the magnetization processes and magnetic domain structure in epitaxial ultrathin Co films grown on stepped Si(111) substrates. The surfaces after Cu and Au/Cu coverage were investigated using in situ STM technique. The thickness driven evolution of hysteresis loops corresponds to spin-reorientation transition above 7 monolayers (ML) Co thickness. The in-plane magnetic anisotropy symmetry was deduced from magneto-optical (MOKE) hysteresis loops. The experimental data are discussed taking into account contributions of both perpendicular and in-plane uniaxial step-induced anisotropy. The preference of domain wall propagation for 3 and 5 ML Co thicknesses could be explained by the step-induced in-plane magnetic anisotropy determined from in-plane MOKE measurement.

Keywords

buffer layers; cobalt; copper; gold; magnetic anisotropy; magnetic domains; magnetic epitaxial layers; magnetic hysteresis; magneto-optical effects; monolayers; scanning tunnelling microscopy; silicon; Au-Co-Au-Cu-Si; MOKE measurement; STM; Si; buffer layers; domain wall propagation; epitaxial ultrathin cobalt film; in-plane magnetic anisotropy symmetry; magnetic domain structure; magnetization process; magneto-optical hysteresis loops; monolayers; spin-reorientation transition; stepped Si(111) substrate; Cobalt; magnetic anisotropy; magnetic domains; magnetization reversal;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMAG.2008.2001519

Filename

4717332