Direct evidence for complete antiferromagnetic coupling between Co films epitaxially grown on Cu(1 1 1) using Pb as surfactant

Co/Cu films were grown epitaxially on Cu(1 1 1), using Pb as a surfactant. The exchange coupling between Co layers separated by Cu is studied with magnetic circular dichroism in valence band photoemission. Direct evidence for complete antiferromagnetic coupling is observed at 4 monolayer Cu thickness for Co films both with perpendicular and in-plane remanent magnetization from the sign reversal of the dichroic asymmetry.