Gilbert Damping in Ni/Co Multilayer Films Exhibiting Large Perpendicular Anisotropy

Abstract

Gilbert damping is reported in perpendicularly magnetized Ni/Co multilayer films with Pt buffer and capping layers, and investigated through the time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect under various applied magnetic field strengths and directions. Both damping constant α and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy Ku depend strongly on layer thickness and bilayer periodicity, and rise to approximately 0.08 and 8 Merg/cm3, respectively. The Gilbert damping rate depends linearly on inverse multilayer thickness, indicating that large damping in the Ni/Co multilayers stems from its interfaces in contact with the Pt layers.