Different scenarios for the in-plane spin reorientation transition in Fe(110) films on W(110)

Abstract

We investigated the spin reorientation transition during the growth of Fe(110) films on W(110) at 250 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C using the in situ nuclear resonant scattering of x rays. The measurements as a function of the grazing incidence angle demonstrated that the spin reorientation proceeds via an intermediate, noncollinear magnetic state, and with increasing thickness, the magnetization reorientation from the [1$\overline{1}$0] to the [001] direction is activated at the film surface and completed at the Fe/W interface. Furthermore, as the temperature was decreased from 250 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C to 160 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, the temperature-driven spin reorientation transition (SRT) between the [001] and [1$\overline{1}$0] directions was observed with a similar noncollinear transient magnetic state. The thickness-temperature SRT phase diagram was schematically drawn.