Strain dependence of the interface perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in epitaxial Co/Au/Cu(111) films

Abstract

We observe a systematic increase in interface perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) with increasing Au-interlayer thickness t{sub Au} ranging from 1 to 5 ML in Cu/Co/Au/Cu(111), where misfit strain in Co due to the epitaxial growth increases with increasing t{sub Au}. In addition, we have found an unexpected suppression of this variation of interface PMA with the use of Au overlayers instead of Cu. Also, the volume PMA significantly increases with the Au overlayer. (c) 1999 The American Physical Society.