ISSN:
1089-7550
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
We present the effects of antiferromagnetic (AF) order of the Cr spacers in Fe/Cr(001) superlattices on the interlayer coupling of the Fe layers. AF order of the Cr spacers is suppressed for layer thicknesses less than 42 A(ring). For (approximately-greater-than)42 A(ring) of Cr, the Néel temperature (TN) increases rapidly and asymptotically approaches the bulk value for thick Cr spacers as characterized by a transition-temperature shift exponent λ=1.4±0.3. Neutron diffraction confirms both the AF order of the Cr layers in superlattices with 62, 100, and 200 A(ring) thick Cr layers, and the existence of the incommensurate, transverse spin-density-wave magnetic structure whose nesting wave vector is equal to that of bulk Cr. The AF ordering of the Cr results in anomalies in a variety of magnetic properties, including the interlayer coupling, remanent magnetization, coercivity, and magnetoresistance. Most strikingly, the 90° or "biquadratic'' coupling of the Fe layers observed for T(approximately-greater-than)TN is suppressed below TN as confirmed by polarized neutron reflectivity. This behavior can be understood in terms of the combination of finite-size and spin frustration effects at rough Fe/Cr interfaces. © 1996 American Institute of Physics.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.361769
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