EPITAXIAL-GROWTH OF MAGNETIC AU CO/AU SANDWICHES STUDIED BY TEM/

Au/Co(4 ML)/Au sandwiches grown on molybdenite substrates and showing strong perpendicular anisotropy have been studied by transmission elec tron microscopy (TEM). The growth characteristics and relaxation mecha nisms of the ultrathin magnetic layers have been determined by combini ng information given in plan view and cross-sectional TEM specimens mi crographs. In-plane and out-of-plane elastic strains in the Co layer h ave been deduced from the measurement of moire fringes spacing and ato mic planes spacing obtained by high-resolution imaging followed by ima ge processing. Our results give evidence for an island growth mode of the Co layer and a volume expansion of the cobalt lattice. They are an alysed through the comparison with results obtained by other experimen tal techniques and in particular, in noncovered cobalt layers.