Dipolar Magnetic Interaction in Ultrathin Films

Abstract

Ultrathin films are an important testing ground of our understanding of magnetic interactions in quasi-twodimensional systems. A formalism that takes into account the discreteness of atomic layer distribution along the growth direction is employed to calculate the dipolar anisotropy energy. Numerical results are presented for close-packed and non-close packed structures. Structural and size effects are investigated. Comparison with effective anisotropy energy allows verify the role of the dipolar interaction in the magnetization switching when the film thickness is changed.