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arXiv · 1609.02903

On the origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in strained Fe-Co(-X) films

Ludwig Reichel·Alexander Edström·Darius Pohl·Jan Rusz·Olle Eriksson·Ludwig Schultz·Sebastian Fähler
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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/oxide interfaces may open a route towards high anisotropy in rare-earth free materials.

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Ludwig Reichel, Alexander Edström, Darius Pohl, Jan Rusz, Olle Eriksson, Ludwig Schultz, Sebastian Fähler. 2016-12-20. On the origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in strained Fe-Co(-X) films. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463%2Faa51af

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