Orientational and thickness dependence of interfacial magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Co/Cu superlattices

Miyoung Kim*, Lieping Zhong, Xindong Wang, A. J. Freeman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The interface magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) of (0 0 1), (1 1 0) and (1 1 1) oriented Co/Cun superlattices (n ≤ 5) was investigated by means of the full potential linearized augmented-plane-wave (FLAPW) method. The results show a marked dependence of the interface MCA on both the orientation and the thickness of the Cu layer. For (0 0 1) oriented superlattices, the small value of the interface MCA with one Cu layer increases significantly as more Cu layers are added. In contrast, the interface MCA of (1 1 0) and (1 1 1) oriented superlattices are not sensitive to the number of Cu layers. The interface MCA is large and positive in the (0 0 1) orientation for n = 3 and 5 and slightly positive in the (1 1 1) orientation for n = 2 and 5, corresponding to a perpendicular easy axis while the (1 1 O) oriented superlattices show in-plane easy axis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)277-282
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Volume186
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 15 1998

Keywords

  • Anisotropy - interface
  • Anisotropy - magnetocrystalline
  • Superlattices

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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