Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co$_2$MnGa

Abstract

We report perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the ferromagnetic Heusler alloy Co$_2$MnGa in a MgO/Co$_2$MnGa/Pd trilayer stack for Co$_2$MnGa thicknesses up to 3.5 nm. There is a thickness- and temperature-dependent spin reorientation transition from perpendicular to in-plane magnetic anisotropy which we study through the anomalous Hall effect. From the temperature dependence of the anomalous Hall effect, we observe the expected scaling of $\rho_{xy}^{AHE}$ with $\rho_{xx}$, suggesting the intrinsic and side-jump mechanisms are largely responsible for the anomalous Hall effect in this material.