Anisotropy of the sublattice magnetization and magnetoresistance in Co/Re superlattices on Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}(11{bar 2}0)
- Physics Department, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-6315 (United States)
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)
[Co(20;{Angstrom})/Re(6;{Angstrom})]{sub 20} superlattices were grown on a (11{bar 2}0) surface of a Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} single crystal, with the [0001] direction of their {ital hcp} structure in the plane of the film. The Co layers were found to be antiferromagnetically coupled (AF), with a saturating field of 6 kOe. Polarized neutron reflectivity was used to determine the direction of the sublattice magnetization. In zero applied field, the AF moments are aligned along the Co[0001] axis. In a magnetic field {ital H} perpendicular to the Co[0001] axis, the sublattices moments evolve to a canted arrangement, with the AF component always perpendicular to the field. With {ital H} along the Co[0001] axis, the AF moments flop in a direction perpendicular to Co[0001] axis. The spin flop transition is not abrupt, but can be described as a gradual rotation that is completed at 2 kOe. The anisotropy of the sublattice magnetization is related to the anisotropy of the magnetoresistance. This has the conventional dumbbell behavior with the field applied perpendicular to the Co[0001] axis, but exhibits an extended plateau near H=0, and a slight increase up to H{approximately};kOe, when {ital H} is parallel to Co[0001] axis. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}
- OSTI ID:
- 347045
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 85, Issue 8; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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