We observe a systematic increase in interface perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) with increasing Au-interlayer thickness $t_{\mathrm{Au}}$ ranging from 1 to 5 ML in Cu/Co/Au/Cu(111), where misfit strain in Co due to the epitaxial growth increases with increasing $t_{\mathrm{Au}}.$ In addition, we have found an unexpected suppression of this variation of interface PMA with the use of Au overlayers instead of Cu. Also, the volume PMA significantly increases with the Au overlayer.

• Received 17 March 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.60.15245