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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The effects of ferromagnetic capping layers on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Ni/Cu(001) have been studied. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism was used to obtain element specific magnetic information, including hysteresis loops for both in-plane and perpendicular magnetization. A 15 ML Ni/Cu(001) film maintains its perpendicular magnetic orientation after the addition of a 2.5 ML Fe capping layer. The Fe capping layer reduces the area of the Ni hysteresis loop by a factor of 2.0. A 2.0 ML capping layer of Co on 15 ML Ni/Cu(001) switches the easy axis of magnetization from perpendicular to in-plane.