CoNi/Pt interface roughness probed by nonlinear magneto-optics, x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy

The crystallographic contribution of the nonlinear magneto-optical response from CoNi/Pt interfaces appears to scale linearly with increasing interface roughness as determined by small angle x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy. From the magnetic contribution it follows that the increased interface roughness causes the interface moment to turn out of plane while the bulk of the film has an in-plane magnetization.