Coexisting ferro- and helimagnetism in Dy/Y superlattices

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.364603· OSTI ID:496587

Theis-Broehl, K ^[1]; Ritley, K A; Flynn, C P ^[2]; Hamacher, K; Kaiser, H; Rhyne, J J ^[3]

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1. Institut fuer Experimentalphysik/Festkoerperphysik, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, D-44780 Bochum (Germany)
2. Department of Physics and Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801 (United States)
3. Research Reactor Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211 (United States)

Neutron diffraction studies on Dy/Y superlattices grown with the c axis at an angle of approximately 35{degree} to the film plane reveal a coexistence of helical antiferromagnetic order and ferromagnetic order. The coexistence of magnetic phases has been determined to arise from the development during growth of surface facets of the Y buffer layer, which was grown on bcc (211) Ta or Nb substrates. One of the superlattice facets produces an isotropic expansion of the Dy basal plane which favors the helical antiferromagnetic spin configuration, while the other facet causes an anisotropic contraction of the Dy basal plane that favors ferromagnetism. The net result of the growth anomaly is the apparent coexistence of the two magnetic states as observed by neutron scans made with the scattering vector oriented parallel to the nominal c crystal axis of the superlattice. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 496587
• Report Number(s): CONF-961141--
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 81; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
DYSPROSIUM
FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MOLECULAR BEAM EPITAXY
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
PHASE STUDIES
SUPERLATTICES
YTTRIUM