Oscillation of the coercive force for ultrathin Ag/Co/Cu(111) films

The magnetic properties of ultrathin Ag/Co/Cu(111) films have been investig ated using the surface magneto-optical Kerr effect technique. Along polar d irection with a harder axis of magnetization, Ag overlayer-induced oscillat ion of the coercive force shows a strong in-plane anisotropy for complete A g atomic layers. It is consistent with the enhanced longitudinal Kerr inten sity. A more significant change of the magnetic properties for a thinner fi lm was observed and this should be attributed to a larger ratio of the magn etic-nonmagnetic interface to the volume. The relatively easy axis of the m agnetization is along the longitudinal direction for the Ag/Co/Cu(111) syst em. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.