UHV CANTILEVER BEAM TECHNIQUE FOR QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENTS OF MAGNETIZATION, MAGNETOSTRICTION, AND INTRINSIC STRESS OF ULTRATHIN MAGNETIC-FILMS

A new method-based on the cantilever beam principle-is presented, by m eans of which quantitative values of the magnetization, magnetostricti on, and intrinsic stress of magnetic thin films can be determined. Mor eover investigations of magnetic anisotropies and Curie temperature ar e possible. The high sensitivity achievable enables measurements even on films approaching monolayer thickness. The method is fully compatib le with UHV and-via the intrinsic stress-additionally provides importa nt information on growth mode and microstructure of the films under in vestigation. First results on polycrystalline Fe films demonstrate imp ressively the performance of the technique.