Abstract
The Spin Reorientation Transition (SRT) of Co ultrathin films grown on two Au(111) vicinal surfaces with the same step density but different step edge microfacets has been investigated by in situ magneto-optical Kerr effect. A drastic change in the width of the SRT is reported and is explained by the difference, measured by STM, of the anisotropic surface roughness. A general model, taking into account only uniaxial first-order terms in the anisotropy, is able to explain quantitatively the transition from a continuous to a discontinuous SRT as function of the anisotropic surface roughness. This model is generally applicable to magnetic ultrathin films grown on vicinal surfaces.
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