Structural, Field, and Temperature Dependence of Non-Collinear Magnetic Coupling in Fe/Cr(001) Superlattices
Abstract
Utilizing the magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) in conjunction with x-ray and neutron reflectometry (NR) and diffraction, we have studied the magnetic coupling of Fe/Cr(001) superlattices grown at room temperature and 250 ^circC. Only the samples grown at elevated temperature exhibit non-collinear coupling of 5.0 nm Fe layers across 1.7 nm Cr interlayers. The non-collinear samples feature a less-disordered in-plane interfacial structure than those grown at room temperature. Using x-ray diffuse reflectivity, we have measured a length scale of 10 nm for these in-plane features. We have also observed, via NR, a remanent non-collinear coupling angle of 50^circ and, via MOKE and NR, a gradual approach to saturation at upwards of 7 kOe. These features can be explained qualitatively by the proximity magnetism model of Slonczewski. In addition, we have studied the temperature dependence of thin 1.7 nm and thick 8.8 nm Cr interlayer samples and find a suppression of coupling in the thick film below its T_N=240 K. The thin film remains coupled down to 40 K. Both films exhibit a loss of magnetic coherence above room temperature.
- Publication:
-
APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 1996
- Bibcode:
- 1996APS..MAR.A2204A