Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Pd/Co and Pt/Co thin-film layered structures

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Abstract
Rf sputtered Pd/Co and Pt/Co thin‐film layered structures (LS) have perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, when the Co layer is ultrathin (Ku∼T) and the effective anisotropy field (HK∼1/T) in Pd/Co LS support an interfacial anisotropy as the source of the perpendicular magnetic easy axis. In contrast, the anisotropy is independent of Co thickness for thin Co layers in Pt/Co LS, and thus the mechanism for the perpendicular easy axis is thought to be different. We describe magnetization, resistivity, and x‐ray diffraction data that consistently support sharper interfaces in Pd/Co LS than in Pt/Co LS.