Anisotropic spin-orbit coupling and magnetocrystalline anisotropy in vicinal co films.
The anisotropy of the spin-orbit interaction, <lambda(a)>, in vicinal Co films has been measured using x-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD). A linear increase in <lambda(a)> with Co step density is found using a new sum rule and represents the first experimental confirmation that XMLD probes the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE). X-ray magnetic circular dichroism is used to confirm that the XMLD arises from changes in the local step-edge electronic structure. The XMLD sum rule gives a larger MAE compared to macroscopic values and is discussed with respect to other local probes of the MAE.
Dhesi
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European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, F-38043 Grenoble, France.
van Der Laan
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Dudzik
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Shick
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