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- Reichel, Ludwig, et al.
(author)
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On the origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in strained Fe-Co(-X) films
- 2017
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In: Journal of Physics D. - : IOP Publishing. - 0022-3727 .- 1361-6463. ; 50:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Very high magnetic anisotropies have been theoretically predicted for strained Fe-Co(-X) and indeed several experiments on epitaxial thin films seemed to confirm strain induced anisotropy enhancement. This study presents a critical analysis of the different contributions to perpendicular anisotropy: volume, interface and surface anisotropies. Tracing these contributions, thickness series of single layer films as well as multilayers with Au-Cu buffers/interlayers of different lattice parameters have been prepared. The analysis of their magnetic anisotropy reveals a negligible influence of the lattice parameter of the buffer. Electronic effects, originating from both, the Au-Cu interface and the film surface, outrange the elastic effects. Surface anisotropy, however, exceeds the interface anisotropy by more than a factor of three. A comparison with results from Density Functional Theory suggests, that the experimentally observed strong perpendicular surface anisotropy originates from a deviation from an ideal oxide-free surface. Accordingly, tailored Fe-Co-X/oxideinterfaces may open a route towards high anisotropy in rare-earth free materials.
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