MAGNETIC-ANISOTROPY AND INTERLAYER EXCHANGE COUPLING IN FE(110) AU(111) ULTRATHIN FILMS/

By using in situ polar Kerr effect measurements on stepped wedge sampl es, we have investigated experimentally the magnetic anisotropy at roo m temperature of a bcc Fe(110) ultrathin film on Au(111), during the f irst stages of the deposition of an Au overlayer. We observe a maximum in the perpendicular anisotropy around 1 AL of Au coverage, in surpri sing similarity with previous observations on Co ultrathin films. We h ave then measured the interlayer exchange coupling through Au(lll) on Au/Fe/Au/Co/Au(111) trilayers. We find evidence for oscillating coupli ng, with about the same period as in Co/Au(111)/Co structures, but a v ery different phase.