Abstract
This thesis describes the work carried out by the author into the preparation, and measurement of magnetic properties, of monocrystalline cobalt thin films. Monocrystalline cobalt thin films were grown by vapour deposition in a vacuum onto the {100} faces of magnesium-oxide single crystal substrates . The crystallographic structure of the cobalt thin films on the MgO substrates was investigated using reflection X-ray diffraction and reflection high energy electron diffraction. The epitaxy of the cobalt on the MgO substrates was found to depend on the substrate deposition temperature. The epitaxial temperature required to produce monocrystalline cobalt films on the {100} faces of MgO was found for the author's deposition apparatus. A torque magnetometer was constructed by the author in order to determine the magnetic anisotropy of the cobalt thin films. It was found that the apparent film magnetic anisotropy was closely correlated to the substrate temperature during the deposition of the films, and hence to the crystallographic state of the films.