Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
A series of epitaxial Co-Cu superlattices has been grown on GaAs (110) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. Detailed analysis of x-ray diffuse scattering scans along Co (101ℓ) reveals a crossover from from the bulk hcp phase of Co to metastable fcc stacking. Our measurements indicate a strong correlation between structural symmetry and the magnetic anisotropy in Co - noble metal superlattices. In particular, the perpendicular easy axis of magnetization onsets at Co layer thickness ♣ 19 Å in Cohcp-Au compared to only ˜11 Å in Cofcc-Cu.