Spin-reorientation transition in magnetic alloy films CoxNi1-x/Cu(100)

With better than 1% control of alloy composition, binary alloy films CoxNi1 -x/Cu(100) with x less than or equal to 10% were prepared for the study of the spin-reorientation transition at variations of composition, thickness, and temperature. Only the films with a Co concentration less than 10% revea l the spin-reorientation with the film thickness. The critical thickness fo r the spin-reorientation transition was shifted drastically from 7.5 to 17. 5 monolayers for a Co concentration variation from 0% to 8%. These findings indicate a strong influence of the composition on the magnetoelastic aniso tropy. A kind of temperature-driven spin-reorientation from in-plane to per pendicular with increasing temperature was also found. (C) 2001 American In stitute of Physics.