The effect of the surface quality of MgO (1 1 1) substrates seeded by a 3 n
m thick Pt layer on the intralayer and interlayer structure of Co/Pt (1 1 1
) superlattices was investigated. The superlattices were grown by DC magnet
ron sputtering. Pre-growth processing of the MgO shows that intensive polis
hing using a specific H2O/SiO2 suspension prior to growth is mandatory for
obtaining long-range structural coherence in the films. The comparison betw
een superlattices grown on re-polished and as-supplied substrates shows tha
t the substrate treatment enhances the crystalline in-plane orientation and
suppresses nhc;ach twin formation. Magnetization measurements were perform
ed using the magnetooptical Kerr effect. Smaller Kerr rotation and lower co
ercive fields were observed in the highly ordered samples. (C) 1999 Elsevie
r Science B.V. All rights reserved.