Strain-induced magnetic anisotropy in Cu/Co/Ni/Cu/Si(001) epitaxial structures

We report measurements of the strain-dependent Co magnetic anisotropy constants in epitaxial Cu/Co/Ni/Cu/Si(001) structures in the Ni thickness range 30 to 120 {}. We show that the first and second order magnetoelastic coupling coefficients of fcc Co(001) are comparable in size and vary oppositely with strain, so preventing a strain-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). We demonstrate that by tuning the underlayer Ni thickness it is possible to engineer the magnetoelastic contribution to the magnetic anisotropy of the Co layer.