Strain dependence of the magnetic properties of nm Fe films on W(100)

Authors

Axel Enders, University of Nebraska at LincolnFollow
D. Sander, Max-Planck-Institut fu¨r Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany
J. Kirschner, Max-Planck-Institut fu¨r Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, GermanyFollow

Date of this Version

4-15-1999

Comments

Published in JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS VOLUME 85, NUMBER 8, 15 APRIL 1999. Copyright © 1999 American Institute of Physics. Used by permission.

Abstract

The thickness dependence of the magneto-elastic coupling B₁, the intrinsic film stress, and the magnetic in-plane anisotropy K₄ of Fe films on W(100) are measured with an in situ combination of a highly sensitive optical deflection technique with magneto-optical Kerr-effect measurements. We find that both B₁ and K₄ depend strongly on the Fe film thickness. The thickness dependence of B₁ can be described by considering a second order magneto-elastic coupling constant D = GJ/m³ as a strain dependent correction of B₁. We tentatively ascribe the deviation of K₄ from its bulk value to the tetragonal lattice distortion caused by an effective tensile in-plane strain of 5.3% in the pseudomorphic region and of 0.2% in thicker films.