We have grown face-centered cubic (FCC) (111)- and (001)-oriented CoxPd1−x alloy films (x≊0.20–0.25) by molecular beam epitaxy on (111)Si and (001)MgO substrates, respectively, with thicknesses ≊200–1000 Å. Magnetization (SQUID) measurements show that both (111) and (100) films present a perpendicular easy axis, indicating that a strong magnetic anisotropy overcomes the demagnetizing field favoring the in-plane orientation. We have studied this magnetic anisotropy by combining SQUID and torque measurements. Our experimental results cannot be accounted for by only invoking the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of a disordered solid solution of Co in FCC Pd, and rather indicate an anisotropic distribution of Co in the Pd host.
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Childress et al. (1994) studied this question.