Strain and magnetic anisotropy of epitaxial Ni/Cu(001) nanostructures

Abstract

The magnetic anisotropy of isolated epitaxial Ni/Cu(001) nanostructure on Si(001) has been studied together with structural characterization. The strain of the Ni nanostructure is released such that the perpendicular strain of nanostructure with t(Ni)=10 nm decreases to -0.48% from -1.17% of film with the same thickness. Because of this, strain becomes the main factor in determining magnetic anisotropy of Ni/Cu nanostructure in the investigated Ni thickness range (t(Ni)=4.5-10 nm). (C) 2006 American Institute of Physics.