Atomic and Magnetic Structure of the Interface in Multilayers

Temperature dependence of the magnetic properties of Fe/Ag vacuum evaporated multilayers was studied in a wide range of layer thickness. For Fe thickness larger than 1 nm continuous magnetic layers can be found, but its hyperfine field is significantly lower than that of pure α-Fe at elevated temperatures. It is attributed to a decrease of the Curie temperature due to Ag impurities in the Fe layer. Below 1 nm Fe thickness magnetic relaxation and the formation of a granular alloy with 35 T average hyperfine field was observed. Magnetoresistance results indicate the presence of Fe clusters in the Ag matrix, as well. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.