Meyerheim, H. L., Sander, D., Popescu, R., Kirschner, J., Robach, O., Ferrer, S.
Spin reorientation and structural relaxation of atomic layers: Pushing the limits of accuracy
Physical Review Letters 93, (15),pp 156105/1-4 (2004)
The correlation between an ad-layer-induced spin reorientation transition (SRT) and the ad-layer-induced structural relaxation is investigated by combined in situ surface x-ray diffraction and magneto-optical Kerr-effect experiments on Ni/Fe/Ni(111) layers on W(110). The Fe-induced SRT from in-plane to out-of-plane, and the SRT back to in-plane upon subsequent coverage by Ni, are each accompanied by a small lattice relaxation of at most 0.002 Å. Such a small strain variation excludes a magnetoelasticity driven SRT, and we suggest the interface anisotropy as a possible driving force.