Oscillation of the coercive force for ultrathin Ag/Co/Cu(111) films

The magnetic properties of ultrathin Ag/Co/Cu(111) films have been investigated using the surface magneto-optical Kerr effect technique. Along polar direction with a harder axis of magnetization, Ag overlayer-induced oscillation of the coercive force shows a strong in-plane anisotropy for complete Ag atomic layers. It is consistent with the enhanced longitudinal Kerr intensity. A more significant change of the magnetic properties for a thinner film was observed and this should be attributed to a larger ratio of the magnetic–nonmagnetic interface to the volume. The relatively easy axis of the magnetization is along the longitudinal direction for the Ag/Co/Cu(111) system.

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