Interplay between biquadratic coupling and the N{acute e}el transition in Fe/Cr{sub 94}Fe{sub 6}(001) superlattices

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.56.5468· OSTI ID:538577

Fullerton, E E; Sowers, C H; Bader, S D ^[1]

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1. Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)

The commensurate antiferromagnetic order of Cr{sub 94}Fe{sub 6} alloy layers in epitaxial Fe/Cr{sub 94}Fe{sub 6}(001) superlattices was investigated by transport and magnetization techniques. N{acute e}el temperature T{sub N} values are strongly thickness dependent, with T{sub N} suppressed for Cr{sub 94}Fe{sub 6} thicknesses {lt} 36 {Angstrom}. Transport results indicate a broadening of the transition with an onset temperature T{sub 0}{gt}T{sub N} by {approx}150 K for all samples. The biquadratic interlayer coupling of the Fe layers is enhanced for T{sub N}{lt}T{lt}T{sub 0} and suppressed below T{sub N}. T{sub 0} and T{sub N} are identified with the onset on cooling of inhomogeneous and homogeneous order, respectively, within the spacer layers. The regime of inhomogeneous ordering of the spacer is believed to promote biquadratic coupling because of the dominance of interfacial exchange energies. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 538577
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 56; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMDO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
COUPLING
EPITAXY
EXCHANGE INTERACTIONS
FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
IRON
IRON ALLOYS
LAYERS
MAGNETIZATION
MAGNETORESISTANCE
NEEL TEMPERATURE
ORDER-DISORDER TRANSFORMATIONS
SUPERLATTICES
THICKNESS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE