Magnetic surface anisotropies of Co(0001)-based interfaces from in situ magnetometry of Co films on Pd(111), covered with ultrathin films of Pd and Ag

Abstract

Magnetic surface anisotropies (MSA) of Co(0001) interfaces with Ag(111) and Pd(111), and of the free Co(0001) surface, were determined as a function of the thickness of Ag or Pd coverage, respectively, by torsion oscillation magnetometry in situ in UHV. Both second- and fourth- order contributions were considered. Whereas the free surface supports in-plane magnetization, the metal interfaces support perpendicular magnetization, with a pronounced maximum in the magnitude of MSA for 1 monolayer Ag, but a monotonic dependence on Pd thickness.