The growth mechanism and structure of ultrathin cobalt films deposited on the Pd(111) surface

Geometric and magnetic properties of Co/Pd system

“…We see that even at very low coverage as 0.3ML, the azimuthal XPD pattern appears which looks the same as the Pd(111) substrate. This implies that Co grows in islands and follows the fcc structure as the Pd substrate, as was proposed previously [19]. LEED pattern measured after Co film evaporation shows more diffused pattern as the film thickness increases and this fact is consistent with the previous result that Co film grows incoherently [17].…”

On the perpendicular anisotropy of Co/Pd multilayers

“…However, it is likely that the Co and Pd atoms undergo interfacial intermixing during the deposition of multilayers, forming interfacial alloys of Co-Pd [5], which is known to have a very large magnetostriction [6]. Since the perpendicular anisotropy exists only when the Co thickness is kept to two monolayers, this interfacial alloy can experience significant stress due to epitaxial mismatch with the remaining Pd [7]. Thus, a strained interfacial Co-Pd alloy can be the origin of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy observed in multilayers.…”

Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy of Co/Pd(111) Studied by Spin-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy

“…The lattice strains of the Co films have been observed by means of EXAFS, XPD, Xray diffraction and RHEED experiments. [11][12][13][14][15] However, it was noticed that the PMA of Co/Pd(111) cannot be explained only from the viewpoint of the magnetoelastic anisotropy. 15) On the other hand, it is considered that the anisotropy of the orbital moment and the spin-orbit interaction in the electronic structure cause the PMA.…”