Magnetic anisotropy and magnetic fields in bcc Fe/Co (001) superlattices

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 347; no. 1; pp. 252 - 258
• Main Authors: Häggström, L, Kalska, B, Nordström, E, Blomqvist, P, Wäppling, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 16.12.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Interfacial magnetic properties (multilayers, magnetic quantum wells, superlattices, magnetic heterostructures); Magnetic films and multilayers; Magnetic measurements; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic properties of monolayers and thin films; Magnetic properties of surface, thin films and multilayers; Physics; Thin films; Thin films; Magnetic measurements; Magnetic films and multilayers; Hyperfine magnetic field; Moessbauer effect; Magnetic field effects; Magnetic moments; Iron alloys; XRD; Experimental study; Thickness; Binary alloys; Lamellar structure; BCC lattices; Magnetic anisotropy; Superlattices; Cobalt alloys; Transition element alloys
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/S0925-8388(02)00762-4

Alternating layers of iron and cobalt were grown in the (001) direction on MgO substrates. The resulting superlattices, 15–120 repetitions of x ( x=4–8) monolayers (MLs) of iron combined with y ( y=3–8) MLs of cobalt were investigated using X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature and at 10 K. The magnetic field direction was found to be in the basal plane (001) and along the [110] direction. The observed Fe hyperfine fields converted to magnetic moments gave the values 2.48, 2.39 and 2.24 μ B, respectively, for Fe at the interface layer, close to the interface and in the centre of the Fe sublayer (totally 5–6 MLs).