The reorientation transition in Co/Au(111)

The spin reorientation transition in as-grown wedge-shaped Co/Au(111) films has been analyzed. Two critical thicknesses have been detected just like in the annealed case. Here, these are shifted to smaller values. The behavior of the system can be explained on the basis of the thickness-driven trajectory in the anisotropy space of the system. Both the first and second anisotropy constants have been determined: K-1s = 0.66 mJ/m(2), K-2s = -0.12 mJ/m(2). They are both smaller by modulus than their counterparts from the annealed case. The results provide quantitative evidence for the increase of surface anisotropy after annealing. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.