PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC-ANISOTROPY OF PD/CO-MULTILAYERS AND PD/NI-MULTILAYERS

Pd/Co-, Pd/PdCo- and Pd/Ni-multilayers (MLs) with (111) and (100) orientations have been prepared by the RF sputtering method. It was found that the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of these MLs strongly depends on the crystal orientation. In both Pd/Co- and Pd/PdCo-(100)MLs, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is induced only when magnetic layers are very thin. In Pd/Ni-MLs, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is larger in (100)MLs than in (111)MLs. The mechanism of the anisotropy is discussed from the viewpoint of magnetoelastic surface anisotropy.