Spin reorientation and structural relaxation of atomic layers: pushing the limits of accuracy.
The correlation between an ad-layer-induced spin reorientation transition (SRT) and the ad-layer-induced structural relaxation is investigated by combined in situ surface x-ray diffraction and magneto-optical Kerr-effect experiments on Ni/Fe/Ni(111) layers on W(110). The Fe-induced SRT from in-plane to out-of-plane, and the SRT back to in-plane upon subsequent coverage by Ni, are each accompanied by a small lattice relaxation of at most 0.002 A. Such a small strain variation excludes a magnetoelasticity driven SRT, and we suggest the interface anisotropy as a possible driving force.
Meyerheim
H L
HL
Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany. hmeyerhm@mpi-halle.mpg.de
Sander
D
D
Popescu
R
R
Kirschner
J
J
Robach
O
O
Ferrer
S
S