MAGNETIC-ANISOTROPY OSCILLATIONS (INVITED)

The magnetic anisotropy in Co films epitaxially grown on Cu(001) is in vestigated by measuring magneto-optical Kerr hysteresis loops during f ilm growth. As a function of Co thickness the magnetic anisotropy osci llates with a period of 1 monolayer. These oscillations are attributed to the periodic variations of the film morphology alternating between filled and incompletely filled atomic layers. Upon coverage of the Co films with Cu overlayers the anisotropy of the magnetic film is found to oscillate with increasing Cu layer thickness. We relate these osci llations to quantum interferences due to the confinement of electrons in ultrathin films. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.