Abstract:
The variation of energy of ferromagnetic ultra-thin films with second and fourth
order anisotropy was investigated using Heisenberg Hamiltonian with second order
perturbation. The study was limited to sc(001) film with three layers. Graphs indicate
energy minimums at certain values of second order anisotropy, fourth order anisotropy
and angle. Films with fourth order anisotropy
ω
)4( Dm =4 can be easily oriented in the
direction given by angle of 2.66 radians for the values of other energy terms used in
this simulation. When the second order anisotropy (
ω
)2( Dm ) is 3.1, preferred direction
is 0.754 radians. When the second order anisotropy varies at a constant value of fourth
order anisotropy, the graph indicates more energy minimums.
