Structural and magnetic properties of bcc Fe/Co (001) superlattices.

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2002 · J. Magn. Magn. Mater.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-8853(02)00185-3· OSTI ID:949610

Blomquist, P; Wappling, R; Broddefalk, A; Nordblad, P; Felcher, G P

In thin layered Fe/Co (0 0 1), grown on MgO (0 0 1), both Fe and Co crystallize in the body-centered cubic (BCC) structure, as seen in a series of superlattices where the layer thickness of the components is varied from two to twelve atomic monolayers. These superlattices have novel magnetic properties as observed by magnetization and polarized neutron reflectivity measurements. There is a significant enhancement of the magnetic moments of both Fe and Co at the interfaces. Furthermore, the easy axis of the system changes from [1 0 0] for films of low cobalt content to [1 1 0] for a Co content exceeding 33%. No indication of a uniaxial anisotropy component is found in any of the samples. The first anisotropy constant (K1) of BCC Co is found to be negative with an estimated magnitude of 110 kJ/m3 at 10 K. In all cases, the magnetic moments of Fe and Co have parallel alignment.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: FOR; SC
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 949610
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-42524
• Journal Information: J. Magn. Magn. Mater., Journal Name: J. Magn. Magn. Mater. Journal Issue: 1 ; Jul. 2002 Vol. 248; ISSN 0304-8853; ISSN JMMMDC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ALIGNMENT
ANISOTROPY
COBALT
IRON
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETIZATION
NEUTRONS
REFLECTIVITY
SUPERLATTICES
THICKNESS