The Initial Growth Mode Of Co On Cu(311)

We present the results of a systematic investigation of the thickness dependence of ultra-thin Co films on Cu(311) at room temperature using low energy electron diffraction and the magneto-optical Kerr effect. A superparamagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition was observed to occur at a critical thickness of d(c)=4.0 +/- 0.25 ML and the magnetic susceptibility was to follow a power law with a critical exponent gamma=1.103 +/- 0.069, in stark disagreement with results for Co on other Cu surfaces. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3360341]