title: Spin reorientation and structural relaxation of atomic layers: pushing the limits of accuracy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, D-06120 Halle, Germany. hmeyerhm@mpi-halle.mpg.de
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Meyerheim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Robach
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrer