Canted spin structures in Ni films on stepped Cu(001)

We monitored the spin-reorientation transition in ultrathin Ni films grown on a stepped Cu(001) surface with three-dimensional magnetometry using the magnetic circular x-ray dichroism signal at the Ni L-2,L-3 edge. We demonst rate that Ni films between 5.5 and 7 ML thickness exhibit canted-spin struc tures, which include an angle of 20 degrees-30 degrees with the surface nor mal. The transition from in-plane to perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is a ccompanied by a 90 degrees in-plane spin rotation resulting in an orientati on perpendicular to the step edges. [S0163-1829(99)01714-2].