Magnetic anisotropy of (110) Fe/Co superlattices

Magnetic anisotropy field of (110) Fe/Co superlattices was found to be as high as 1 T, with an in-plane easy axis. First principles calculations within the local spin density approximation show good agreement with the measurement. Lowering the symmetry by creating artificial superlattice structures leads to a significant increase in magnetic anisotropy energy as compared with any allotropic form of the elemental components and cubic FeCo. Large anisotropy is attributed to the cubic symmetry breaking due to the multilayer artificial atomic arrangement. Dependence of the anisotropy field on the superlattice period is supported by Monte Carlo film growth modeling. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.