Polarized-neutron-reflectivity confirmation of 90° magnetic structure in Fe/Cr(001) superlattices

Authors

Shireen Adenwalla, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
G. P. Felcher, Argonne National Laboratory
Eric E. Fullerton, Argonne National Laboratory
S. D. Bader, Argonne National Laboratory

Date of this Version

1996

Citation

PHYSICAL REVIEW B VOLUME 53, NUMBER 5 FEBRUARY 1996

Comments

Copyright 1996 The American Physical Society

Abstract

Polarized-neutron reflectivity together with magnetization and magnetotransport measurements on a (001)-oriented [Fe(14 Å)/Cr(74 Å)]20 superlattice confirms the existence of 90° alignment of adjacent Fe layers due to biquadratic interlayer coupling. Each Fe layer is in a single domain state and the magnetic structure is coherent throughout the layered stack. The biquadratic coupling, however, is suppressed below the Cr Néel temperature (T_N=187 K) as the Fe layers uncouple. But by field cooling through T_N it is possible to retain a metastable biquadratic arrangement.