Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
We report the results of photoelectron forward scattering studies of Co-Pt interfaces during the growth of epitaxial superlattices by MBE. These studies reveal that the interfaces are not atomically abrupt but exhibit limited interdiffusion. The dependence of magnetic anisotropy on growth axis and the strong 2-fold in-plane anisotropy for [110] oriented superlattices suggests that magnetocrystalline anisotropy is a major factor in determining the anisotropy in Co/Pt superlatticcs. The possibility that this anisotropy may arise from a combination of structural defects and local ordering is discussed.