Element Specific Magnetic Anisotropy Energy of Alternately Layered FeNi Thin Films

概要

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The element specific magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of alternately layered FeNi thin films grown on Ni (4--20 MLs)/Cu(001) is investigated by means of the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE). Although surface Fe is known to show strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, the Ni-sandwiched Fe layer has a tiny MAE of $10\pm 40$ μeV. On the other hand, the Fe-sandwiched Ni layer has a positive MAE of $60\pm 30$ μeV. The total MAE simulated from the XMCD analysis shows good agreement with the MOKE result. We demonstrate that <i>in-situ</i> analysis of the element specific MAE gives a possible strategy for manipulating the magnetic anisotropy of multilayers.
2011-07-25