Thickness-dependent magnetic anisotropy in ultrathin Fe/Co/Cu(001) films

摘要

Using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method, we have explored the thickness-dependent magnetic anisotropy of ultrathin Fe films with 1 ML Co underlayer on Cu(001) as well as other magnetic properties. It has been found that the magnetic moment of Co underlay is almost intact with increasing Fe film thickness. A similar trend has been observed in interior Fe layers, whereas the surface Fe magnetic moment is greatly enhanced compared to those in other layers. Through magnetic anisotropy calculations, we have found that the 1 ML Fe film on Co/Cu(001) has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, but the direction of magnetization changes to in-plane with increasing Fe coverage. It has been found that the spin-orbit interactions around the middle of Brillouin zone play an essential role in the spin reorientation transition.