Current-driven resonances in magnetic multilayers

We describe complex variations in resistance of a Co/Cu multilayer, generated by injection of an adjustable dc current density ( approximately 10(9) A/cm(2)) via a point contact. We attribute these variations to coupling of current-induced spin waves to lattice vibrations, leading especially to current-driven resonant excitations of phonons. We propose a simple model to explain the observed structured behavior of the variations as a function of the applied current and magnetic field.     

Perpendicular giant magnetoresistance of magnetic multilayers

The theoretical and experimental studies of the giant magnetoresistance effect in metallic magnetic multilayers with measuring current perpendicular to the interface planes are reviewed. Theoretical formalisms of electronic transport in the inhomogeneous electron gas are critically compared with emphasis on the perpendicular magnetoresistance in multilayers. The effects of interface roughness, potential steps at the interfaces, and realistic band structures are addressed. The experimental determination of the perpendicular resistance of metallic multilayers requires either low-resistance measurement techniques or microfabricated samples with enhanced resistances. The experimental methods known at present are discussed and, where possible, compared with each other.     

Competing exchange interactions in magnetic multilayers

We have studied alloying of the nonmagnetic spacer layer with a magnetic material as a method of tuning the interlayer coupling in magnetic multilayers. We have specifically studied the Fe/V(100) system by alloying the spacer V with various amounts of Fe. For some Fe concentrations in the spacer, it is possible to create a competition between antiferromagnetic Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida exchange and direct ferromagnetic exchange coupling. The exchange coupling and transport properties for a large span of systems with different spacer concentrations and thicknesses were calculated and measured experimentally and good agreement between observations and theory was observed. A reduction in magnetoresistance of about 50% was observed close to the switchover from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic coupling.     

Phase-coherent current-driven magnons in magnetic multilayers

We report the detection of electromagnetic waves radiated by current-driven magnons in a Co/Cu magnetic multilayer. The magnons were excited by means of a high current density ≈10⁸ A/cm² injected into the multilayer through a point contact. The point contact itself was used as a high frequency mixer to mix electromagnetic waves radiated by the current-driven magnons with externally generated microwave radiation. Here the external microwaves are used as a direct probe of the high-frequency behavior and partial phase coherence of the current-induced excitations. When the external frequency equaled the frequency of the magnons generated in the multilayer a DC voltage was found to develop across the contact. Investigation of how this voltage varies with exciting current, magnetic field, and microwave frequency provides detailed information on the spectrum of the current-driven magnons. Our observations support the feasibility of a spin-wave maser, or spin-wave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.     

Noncollinear magnetic states in iron-chromium-type multilayers

A model of noncollinear magnetic ordering in Fe/Cr-type multistructures was suggested. The model was based on the idea of charge (and, as a consequence, spin) density redistribution near a metal-metal interface. A peculiar state of the whole structure characterized by strong short-range antiferromagnetic ordering in the interlayer and a pronounced dependence of magnetic characteristics on the properties of the boundary between iron and chromium layers was shown to be formed in a certain temperature range. Inhomogeneous antiferromagnetic structures with a vector order parameter were found, and the effective exchange coupling between neighboring iron layer moments was calculated using the Ginzburg-Landau expansion of the thermodynamic potential. The results were used to discuss the experimental data on Fe/Cr superlattices obtained in neutron scattering and magnetization measurements.     

Surface spin waves in anisotropic magnetic multilayers

The spectrum of magnetostatic surface spin waves of a stack of magnetic and nonmagnetic layers is investigated theoretically. The calculation treats a very general case: each layer is allowed to be of different thickness, magnetization and magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Some interesting spezial cases are discussed in detail.     

Theory of exchange coupling in disordered magnetic multilayers

We consider a mechamism of exchange coupling based on interaction between electrons in a nonmagnetic layer. Depending on the ratio of inverse time of diffusion of electrons between ferromagnetic layers and ferromagnetic splitting of conducting electrons, this mechanism describes the transition from ferromagnetic to noncollinear ordering of magnetizations of ferromagnetic layers.     

Antisymmetric magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy

While magnetoresistance (MR) has generally been found to be symmetric in applied field in nonmagnetic or magnetic metals, we have observed antisymmetric MR in Co/Pt multilayers. Simultaneous domain imaging and transport measurements show that the antisymmetric MR is due to the appearance of domain walls that run perpendicular to both the magnetization and the current, a geometry existing only in materials with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. As a result, the extraordinary Hall effect gives rise to circulating currents in the vicinity of the domain walls that contributes to the MR. The antisymmetric MR and extraordinary Hall effect have been quantitatively accounted for by a theoretical model.     

Calculation of nuclear resonant scattering spectra of magnetic multilayers

We report on calculations of the angle- and time-dependent photon reflectivity of multilayers using the technique of characteristic matrices. Spectra of⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁷Fe and Cr/Fe multilayers are calculated under various conditions. The parameters of the multilayers are optimized for suitable test samples of reflectometry measurements.     

Analytical expressions for polar magnetoptics in magnetic multilayers

This paper is a comprehensive study of different formalisms used to simulate polar magneto-optical (MO) effects in multilayers. A development of the 4 × 4 matrix calculation to first order in off-diagonal elements of the permittivity tensor gives original analytical expressions. They allow to express the MO effects in multilayers as a sum of contributions from individual layers. Each contribution consists of two components assigned to the interface and propagation effects. The explicit expressions for multilayers containing up to seven layers, together with those obtained in the frame of an ultrathin layer approximation, are shown to be useful both in a qualitative comprehension and in quantitative simulations of the experimental MO Kerr spectra of a wide variety of ultrathin magnetic structures. They can be used to separate the different contributions arising from the interfaces due to intermixing or spin polarization (including interface roughness) as well as to simulate magnetically coupled multilayers. As an example, the analytical expression is provided for a system consisting of two ultrathin films separated by a non-magnetic spacer and deposited on a non-magnetic substrate. The capabilities of the analytical expressions are demonstrated on MO spectroscopy in a broad spectral range of some well characterized ultrathin magnetic structures. This work has been partially supported by HCM programme “Magnetic properties of novel ultrathin films” (project number ERBCIPDCT940622), NATO Grant “High Technology” (LG931415) and Grant Agency of Czech Republic (# 202/97/1180 and # 202/00/0761).     

Layer-resolved magnetic moments in Ni/Pt multilayers

The magnetic moments in Ni/Pt multilayers are thoroughly studied by combining experimental and ab initio theoretical techniques. SQUID magnetometry probes the samples' magnetizations. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism separates the contribution of Ni and Pt and provides a layer-resolved magnetic moment profile for the whole system. The results are compared to band-structure calculations. Induced Pt magnetic moments localized mostly at the interface are revealed. No magnetically "dead" Ni layers are found. The magnetization per Ni volume is slightly enhanced compared to bulk NiPt alloys.     

Spin dependent resistivity in magnetic alloys and multilayers

Material dependence of the spin dependent resistivity and magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers as well as heterogenous alloys has been studied theoretically in a two-band model, by putting emphasis on random configuration of atoms near the interfaces. When the non-magnetic atoms are on the right (left) of the magnetic atoms, e.g., Fe or Co, in the periodic table, the ratio between the spin dependent resistivity, ϱ_↓ / ϱ_↑, is greater (smaller) than 1. It is also shown that the two-band model unifies the results obtained in the tight-binding model and the Anderson model.     

Structure and magnetic anisotropy of Fe/Pt multilayers

A series of Fe/Pt multilayers prepared by magnetron sputtering have been studied by XRD, conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) and SQUID magnetometry. The samples with individual Fe thickness of 3 Å show orientation of the magnetic moment close to perpendicular to the film plane and Curie temperatures near 350 K. Interdiffusion at the interface is manifested in a distribution of hyperfine fields.