Abstract
Polar magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) measurements on epitaxial Cu/22ACo/0-49Å Cu/53Å Ni/Cu/Si(001) structures reveal that the Ni magnetisation is aligned in-plane for zero Cu spacer layer thickness and becomes increasingly aligned out-of plane with increasing Cu spacer layer thickness, whereas an in-plane remanence for Co is always observed. Polarised neutron reflection (PNR) measurements at room temperature yield at room temperature a slightly reduced magnetisation of 1.57 ± 0.08μB for Co and 0.50 ± 0.04μB for Ni for a Cu/22Å Co/10Å Cu/53Å Ni/Cu/Si(001) structure. PNR measurements yield also a reduced in-plane remanence for both Co and Ni. This could suggest either a canted magnetisation or multidomain state at remanence. The Latter mechanism is supported by magnetic force microscopy images.
