Helical and Incommensurate Spin-Density Waves in Fe/ Cr Multilayers with Interfacial Steps

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.4979· OSTI ID:670236

Fishman, R S ^[1]

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1. Solid State Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6032 (United States)

Although absent in bulk transition metals, a noncollinear, helical (H) spin-density wave (SDW) is stabilized by steps at the interfaces in Fe/Cr multilayers. Using the random-phase approximation, we evaluate the phase boundary between the H SDW and the collinear, incommensurate (I) SDW found in bulk Cr. In agreement with neutron-scattering results, the I-to-H transition temperature T{sub IH} is always lower than the bulk N{acute e}el temperature T{sub N} and the nodes of the I SDW lie near the Fe-Cr interfaces. While a H SDW with a single {plus_minus}{pi}/2 twist has lower free energy than a I SDW above T{sub N} , H SDW{close_quote}s with larger twists are stable between T{sub IH} and T{sub N} . {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society }

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-96OR22464
• OSTI ID: 670236
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 81; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CHROMIUM
HELICAL CONFIGURATION
INTERFACES
IRON
LAYERS
NEEL TEMPERATURE
PHASE DIAGRAMS
SPIN WAVES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS