SPIN REORIENTATION TRANSITION IN NI FILMS ON CU(100)

The magnetic anisotropy of Ni films grown on single-crystal Cu(100) wa s studied in situ using the surface magneto-optic Kerr effect. The eas y axis of magnetization lies in the plane of the film for ultrathin fi lms and it is perpendicular to the film above a switching thickness. T his behavior is attributed to a specific contribution to the magnetocr ystalline anisotropy energy induced by a change in the film microstruc ture above a critical thickness. In the Ni/Cu(100) system, the magneto elastic interface anisotropy favors perpendicular magnetization which becomes comparable to the shape anisotropy at the switching thickness. We compare the switching thickness and magnetization of films grown u sing different processing conditions.