Oscillatory interlayer magnetic coupling of sputtered Fe/Nb superlattices

Journal Article · Sat May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Journal of Applied Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.353486· OSTI ID:6893551

Mattson, J E; Fullerton, E E; Sowers, C H; Huang, Y Y; Felcher, G P; Bader, S D ^[1]

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

The saturation field of sputtered Fe/Nb superlattices oscillates as a function of the Nb thickness with a periodicity of [similar to]9 A. In contrast to the case of Fe/Cr superlattices, the concurrent magnetoresistance oscillations were found to be very weak. Yet polarized neutron reflection measurements confirm that the Fe/Nb superlattices with high saturation field possess a magnetic ground state of the +[minus]+[minus] type. Neutron and x-ray measurements indicate that, while the crystalline and antiferromagnetic order is well developed along the thickness of the film, the average lateral size of the crystallites (as well as of the magnetic domains) is quite small. This effect (thought to be related to the gross mismatch of the iron and the niobium crystal lattices) may be the cause of the high overall resistance of the material, and its weak dependence on the magnetization.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6893551
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics; (United States) Vol. 73:10; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
IRON
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETORESISTANCE
METALS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
NIOBIUM
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REFLECTIVITY
SCATTERING
SPUTTERING
SUPERLATTICES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION