Magnetic anisotropy and magnetoelastic constants of ultrathin Fe/GaAs(001) films sputtered in hydrogen atmosphere

Abstract The cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy and the in-plane uniaxial anisotropy as well as magnetoelastic constants of epitaxial iron films prepared by DC magnetron sputtering on single crystal GaAs (0 0 1) substrate in argon—hydrogen atmosphere and covered with a protective Ge layer have been investigated by means of the ferromagnetic resonance and strain-modulated ferromagnetic resonance. It has been shown that the uniaxial and cubic anisotropy constants as well as magnetoelastic constant strongly depend on the thickness of the film. The surface components of the cubic anisotropy and magnetoelastic constants have been determined and analyzed within the Neel and dipolar models. The proposed analysis of experimental data gives chance for deeper insight into mechanisms responsible for anisotropy and magnetostriction of iron thin films.