LAUSR

Abstract We studied the magnetic properties of 10 and 20 nm-thick, gold-capped FeRh layers grown on MgO(0 0 1). Whereas the majority of the FeRh film undergoes ferromagnetic–antiferromagnetic phase transition upon cooling, a small fraction of the FeRh system remains in the ferromagnetic state at low temperatures. This residual ferromagnetic phase located at the FeRh/MgO interface exhibits perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Moreover, in the 10 nm-thick film, a small amount of the antiferromagnetic phase survives to high temperatures above the phase transition and probably originates from the epitaxial strains generated at the FeRh/Au interface.