Magneto-elastic and interface anisotropy of epitaxial Cu/Ni/Cu(001) sandwiches

For epitaxial Cu/Ni/Cu/Ni₆₀Cu₄₀/Cu(001) and Cu/30 Å Ni/Cu/Ni/Cu(001) structures, the in-plane lattice parameter of the Cu spacer layer is found to increase with its thickness. The Ni in-plane lattice parameter becomes larger with increasing Cu spacer thickness. Cu/Ni/Cu/Ni₆₀Cu₄₀(001) structures show an increase in the magneto-elastic anisotropy with increasing Cu spacer thickness but no significant difference between the interface anisotropy of the Ni-Cu and the Ni-Ni₆₀Cu₄₀ interface