A circularly polarized X-ray study of the temperature-dependent spin-reorientation transition of thin Co films

Utilizing vector magnetometry by means of X-ray circular dichroism, the tem perature-driven spin reorientation from an in-plane to out-of-plane orienta tion in thin Co films is studied in an epitaxially grown Au/Co/Au trilayer with decreasing temperature. Probing the remanent state by changing the pho ton helicity provides evidence for a smooth transition and the formation of a metastable magnetic multi-domain state at temperatures below the transit ion temperature. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.