Abstract
Ultrathin Ni films are grown on stepped Cu(001) in 0°–10° range of the vicinal angle. Spin-reorientation transition (SRT) of these films is studied in situ using surface magneto-optical Kerr effect. The SRT thickness is invariant up to 7° vicinal angle. Adsorption of submonolayer Co at the Ni step edges, however, increases significantly the SRT thickness. The results are quantitatively reproduced by a simple phenomenological model considering the presence of step-induced anisotropy.
- Received 28 September 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.3235
©2000 American Physical Society