MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF ULTRATHIN NI FILMS

The magnetic properties of Au/Ni/Si(100) films with Ni thicknesses of 8 - 200 Angstrom are studied at T = 77 K using a scanning magnetic mic roscope with a thin-film high-temperature dc SQUID. It is found that t he Ni films, with an area of 0.6x0.6 mm, which are thicker than 26 Ang strom have a single-domain structure with the magnetic moment oriented in the plane of the film and a saturation magnetization close to 0.17 MA/m. For films less than 26 Angstrom thick, the magnetization of the film is found to drop sharply. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics . [S1063-7834(98)02509-X].