Structure and magneto optical properties of ferromagnetic Ni films grown on Cu(110)

Abstract

The structure and magnetism of several monolayer (ML) thick ferromagnetic nickel films evaporated on Cu(110) was studied in-situ under ultra-high-vacuum conditions. Optical-, magnetic- and structural properties of the layers are correlated using simultaneous Reflectance Anisotropy Spectroscopy (RAS) and Magneto Optical Kerr Effect Spectroscopy (MOKE-S) as well as STM at certain coverages. Using oxygen as a surfactant for the nickel/copper system, it is possible to obtain pseudomorphic layer growth up to 18 ML. These films turn out to be nearly single domain and show complete out-of-plane magnetization after a spin-reorientation transition from in-plane at 6 ML. © 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.