Magnetic anisotropy, magnetic moments and coupling of Cu/Co/Cu/Ni/Cu(001) trilayer

Abstract

Polar magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) measurements on an epitaxial Cu/Co (23 Å)/Cu (0-49 Å)/Ni (53 Å)/Cu/Si(001) structure reveal that the Ni magnetization is aligned in plane for zero Cu spacer layer thickness and becomes increasingly aligned out of plane with increasing Cu spacer layer thickness, whereas an in-plane remanent magnetization for Co is always observed. Layer selective polarized neutron reflection (PNR) measurements yield almost bulk-like magnetic moments of 1.57±0.08 µB for Co and 0.50±0.04 µB for Ni for a Cu/Co (22 Å)/Cu (10 Å)/Ni (53 Å)/Cu/Si(001) structure at room temperature. A reduced remanence is observed for both the out-of plane magnetization by polar MOKE, and the in-plane magnetization for Co and Ni by PNR. This could suggest either a canted magnetization or multidomain state at remanence.