Local structural and polar Kerr effect measurements on an ultrathin epitaxial Co wedge grown on Pd(111)

A Pd/Co double layer has been grown epitaxially in ultrahigh vacuum on a Pd(111) single crystal, with the Co in the shape of a wedge of thickness varying from 0 to 10 monolayers (ML). The polar magneto-optical Kerr effect has been used to make a nearly continuous set of measurements of the magnetic...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Journal of applied physics 1993-02, Vol.73 (3), p.1360-1367
Hauptverfasser: PURCELL, S. T, JOHNSON, M. T, MCGEE, N. W. E, DE VRIES, J. J, ZEPER, W. B, HOVING, W
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:A Pd/Co double layer has been grown epitaxially in ultrahigh vacuum on a Pd(111) single crystal, with the Co in the shape of a wedge of thickness varying from 0 to 10 monolayers (ML). The polar magneto-optical Kerr effect has been used to make a nearly continuous set of measurements of the magnetic properties as a function of Co thickness tCo. The coercive fields Hc and nucleation fields Hn show large, well-defined maxima at tCo∼2.3 ML. Between 4 and 9 ML, we find that Hc falls with increasing thickness according to a tCo−5/2 dependence. The Kerr ellipticity and Kerr rotation depend linearly on Co thickness above ∼2 ML Co, but show appreciable offsets when extrapolated to tCo=0. These offsets are clear evidence of the polarization of Pd near the interfaces. Extensive in situ growth studies of the structure of the films are also reported.
ISSN:0021-8979
1089-7550
DOI:10.1063/1.354061