Bistable coupling states measured on single Co nanoclusters deposited on CoO(111).

We describe novel features of the induced magnetic anisotropy in Co nanoclusters coupled with a CoO(111) layer. Individual cluster magnetism was studied using new microbridge superconducting quantum interference devices. Intrinsically, the Co clusters are single domains with an effective anisotropy constant K(F)≈1.5×10(6) erg·cm(-3). A bistable state of the ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic coupling is revealed, with a maximum bias systematically observed along CoO[10 ̅1] and an interfacial coupling energy of 0.9 erg·cm(-2). The small bias observed in cluster assembly results from an averaging over the two opposite stable states.