Abstract
The relation between the coercivity and the structure of MBE (Co/Pt) 30 multilayers on Al 2 O 3 (11-20) with Pt buffer layers was studied. By changing the thickness of Co layers, Pt layers or Pt buffer layers, the in-plane strains of Pt layers can be varied from -1.6% to -4.5%. The coercive force, H c , is roughly inverse proportional to the in-plane strain of Pt layer. However, if the in-plane strain is constant, the H c is still increased regardless of the decrease of the density of the in-plane defects as the thickness of the Pt buffer layer increases. The interface mixing might be the reason of reducing the H c value. © 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.