Magnetocrystalline anisotropy of magnetic grains in Co80Pt20: oxide thin films probed by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism

Using angle-dependent x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, we have measured magnetic hysteresis loops at the Co L-2,L-3 edges of oxide-doped Co80Pt20 thin films. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) of the Co atoms, which is the main source of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the CoPt magnetic grains, has been determined directly from these element-specific hysteresis loops. When the oxide volume fraction (OVF) is increased from 16.6% to 20.7%, the Co MAE has been found to decrease from 0.117 meV/atom to 0.076 meV/atom. While a larger OVF helps one to achieve a smaller grain size, it reduces the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, as demonstrated unambiguously from the direct Co MAE measurements. Our results suggest that those Co80Pt20:oxide films with an OVF between 19.1% and 20.7% are suitable candidates for high-density magnetic recording. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3596516]