Magnetization Reversal and Dynamics in Epitaxial Fe/Pt Spintronic Bilayers Stimulated by Interfacial FeO Nanoparticles.

We have explored the impact of elevated growth and annealing temperatures on the local interfacial structure of thin Fe(12 nm)/Pt(10 nm) spintronic bilayers, epitaxially grown on MgO (100), and their correlation to magnetization reversal and dynamics. Electron-beam evaporation growth and subsequent annealing at 450 °C causes significant roughening of the MgO/Fe interface with irregular steps and multilevel (100) MgO surface terraces. Consequently, threading dislocations emerging at the step edges propagated in the Fe layer and terminated at the Fe/Pt interface, which appears pitted with pits 1.