MAGNETOCRYSTALLINE ANISOTROPY IN FERROMAGNETIC-FILMS

The magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MA) of ferromagnetic fcc Ni, fcc Co , and bcc Fe (001) slabs is calculated to second order in the spin-orb it coupling constant using realistic tight-binding models with paramet ers fitted to available first-principles electronic-structure calculat ions. Results for slabs with 1 - 17 atomic layers show that MA favors magnetization perpendicular to the slab for Fe but in-plane for Ni and Co, in agreement with experiment. Fluctuations in the MA as the thick ness is varied indicate that surface MA is not purely of local origin in the surface atomic layer.