Influence of strain on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy in epitaxial Cr/Co/Pd(111) films - art. no. 144431

We studied the correlations between the structure (in particular strain) an d magnetic anisotropy in thin Co/Pd(111) films uncovered and covered with C r. Measurements were done by grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and magnet o-optical Kerr effect. To properly describe these correlations, one has to consider a surface magnetoelastic coefficient. We demonstrate that Cr cappi ng leads to an enhanced anisotropy strength due to strain effects, and an e xtended perpendicular anisotropy thickness range due to an interface contri bution.