Spin reorientation transition in ultrathin Co films on the vicinal surface Au(788)

In this work, we investigate the structural, morphological and magnetic properties of epitaxial Cobalt ultrathin films grown on the vicinal surface Au(788). The aim was to study the magnetization reversal and determine the influence of the regular arrangement of atomic steps, typical of a vicinal surface. The influence of the Co thickness on the spin reorientation from out-of-plane to in-plane magnetization were investigated by means of the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE). Preparation and surface quality of the Co films were characterized using the surface experimental techniques LEED and STM. A smooth spin reorientation transition, between 8 and 12 atomic monolayers (ML) of Co, was observed from out-of-plane magnetization, between 5 ML and 12 ML of Co, to in-plane magnetization, above 13 ML of Co. Furthermore, the angular dependence of the magnetic hysteresis loops indicates uniaxial magnetic anisotropy parallel to the atomic steps in the surface plane of the system Au/Co/Au(788) for thicknesses between 13 ML and 20 ML of Co.