First-principles investigation of the magnetic anisotropy and magnetic properties of Co/Ni(111) superlattices

We used first-principles methods to calculate the electronic and magnetic structure of Co/Ni(111) superlattices with a thickness of the Co and Ni layers ranging from one to four monolayers. We give a detailed database on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy induced by interfaces and on the total magnetic anisotropy energy including the shape anisotropy of the superlattices. The magnetic anisotropy is analyzed in terms of the anisotropy of the Co and Ni orbital magnetic moments and in terms of the electron states of the superlattices. Most of our results apply to superlattices with an fcc stacking of the atomic layers, but we also study the influence of stacking faults on the anisotropy. We describe the magnetization, and the density of states and spin polarization at the Fermi level of all these superlattices. The database which we provide should help researchers who aim to design Co/Ni-based magnetic or spintronic devices with suitable physical properties.