Distribution of the magnetic scattering amplitudes in the Fe/Cu multilayer investigated by resonant magnetic diffraction with circularly polarized hard X-rays

Resonant X-ray magnetic diffraction profiles were measured for an epitaxial Fe/Cu multilayer using circularly polarized X-rays near the Fe and Cu K-edges. Diffraction intensities were compared with those obtained from the theoretical and empirical models. It is found that the interface Fe moment is reduced to 70% of the inner-layer moment. Concerning the Cu layer, the observed energy dependence of the magnetic diffraction intensities is consistent with that derived from the first-principle band calculation, indicating that magnetic proximity effect in the Cu layer is confined within a few atomic layers near the interface.     

Magnetic depth profiling of Fe/Au multilayer using neutron reflectometry

We present unpolarized and polarized neutron reflectometry data on Fe/Au multilayer sample for characterizing the layer structure and magnetic moment density profile. Fe/Au multilayer shows strong spin-dependent scattering at interfaces, making it a prospective GMR material. Fe/Au multilayer with bilayer thickness of 130 Å was grown on Si substrate by RF magnetron sputtering technique. Unpolarized neutron reflectivity measurement yields nuclear scattering length density profile. The magnetic scattering length density profile has been obtained from polarized neutron reflectivity measurements.     

Cu cap layer on Ni8/Cu(001): reorientation and TC-shift

Adding a non-magnetic Cu overlayer on Ni₈/Cu(001) is known to induce the reorientation of the magnetic easy axis from in-plane to out-of-plane and to reduce the Curie temperature. In this paper both effects are described on the same footing using an effective Heisenberg trilayer. The model takes into account thermal fluctuations of the magnetization and allows to separate explicitly between two possible mechanisms behind the experimental observations, namely between a reduction of the magnetic moment by hybridization and a lattice relaxation at the Ni/Cu interface. Ferromagnetic resonance data for the reorientation and the decreased Curie temperature due to the Cu cap layer are best reproduced by assuming a reduction of the magnetic moment at the interface by ≈1/3.     

Induced moment due to perpendicular field cycling in trained exchange bias system

Depth-sensitive polarized neutron scattering in specular and off-specular mode has recently revealed that perpendicular field cycling brings about a modification in the interfacial magnetization of a trained exchange coupled interface. We show here by various model fits to our neutron reflectivity data that a restoration of the untrained state is not possible in the case of our polycrystalline multilayer specimen. This is due a magnetic moment at the interface induced only after perpendicular field cycling, changing the initial field-cooled state.     

Polarized neutron reflectometry at Dhruva reactor

Polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) is an ideal non-destructive tool for chemical and magnetic characterization of thin films and multilayers. We have installed a position sensitive detector-based polarized neutron reflectometer at Dhruva reactor, Trombay. In this paper we will discuss the results obtained from this instrument for two multilayer samples. The first sample is a (Ni-Mo alloy)/Ti multilayer sample. We have determined the chemical structure of this multilayer by unpolarized neutron reflectometry (NR). The other sample is a Fe/Ge multilayer sample for which we obtained the chemical structure by NR and magnetic moment per Fe atom by PNR.     

Magnetic structures in Ni80Fe20/Ru multilayers

Using polarized neutron reflectivity (PNR) measurements together with associated simulation, magnetic structures of two Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ (1 1 1)/Ru (0 0 0 1) multilayer samples with Ru thickness of 9 and 21 Å were investigated under various external magnetic fields at room temperature. The results reveal the existence of layer thickness, interface roughness, magnetic moment, interlayer coupling angle and non-collinear coupling. The former three are independent of Ru thickness; while the latter two are strongly dependent of Ru thickness.     

Ultrathin multilayer of Fe and Ge: structure and magnetic properties

Metal-semiconductor multilayers are interesting, artificial structures as prospective candidates for spin injection devices. A Fe–Ge multilayer sample with very thin individual layers (few crystallographic planes) has been deposited by sputtering on Si[1 0 0] substrate. We have characterized the structure of this multilayer sample using X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectometry and neutron reflectometry. The magnetic moment density in the ferromagnetic Fe layer has been obtained by polarized neutron reflectometry and the bulk magnetic behavior of the thin film by SQUID magnetometer measurements. We found that the film is a soft ferromagnet at room temperature with a substantially reduced magnetic moment of the Fe atoms.     

Polarized neutron reflectometry of the influence of Fe/Si,Fe/FeSi2 and Au/Fe interfaces on the magnetic properties of epitaxial Fe films

The magnetic and structural properties of epitaxial Fe films grown on Si(1 1 1) are investigated by polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) at room temperature. The influence of different types of interfaces, Fe/Si, Fe/FeSi₂ and Au/Fe on the magnetic properties of Fe films deposited by molecular beam epitaxy onto Si(1 1 1) are characterized. We observe a drastic reduction of the magnetic moment in the entire Fe film deposited directly on the silicon substrate essentially due to strong Si interdiffusion throughout the whole Fe layer thickness. The use of a silicide FeSi₂ template layer stops the interdiffusion and the value of the magnetic moment of the deposited Fe layer is close to its bulk value. We also evidence the asymmetric nature of the interfaces, Si/Fe and Fe/Si interfaces are magnetically very different. Finally, we show that the use of Au leads to an enhancement of the magnetization at the interface.     

Magnetometry of the Ni(111)Cu(111) interface

Using magnetometry during preparation in UHV, magnetic moments and magnetic anisotropies were measured for Ni (111)-films on Re (0001), and followed during coating by Cu (111). 4 or more layers of Cu (111) resulted in a reduction of magnetic moment by 0.6 monolayer equivalents, in accordance with theoretical predictions, and in a decrease of the magnetic interface anisotropy field by 5.1 Tesla.     

Interface study of ion irradiated Cu/Ni/Cu(0 0 2)/Si magnetic thin film by X-ray reflectivity

The irradiation effect of 1 MeV C⁺ on the interface and magnetic anisotropy of epitaxial Cu/Ni system with a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was investigated by using magneto-optical Kerr effects, grazing incident diffraction and X-ray reflectivity. The magnetic easy-axis was altered from the direction along the surface normal to in-plane and the strain in the Ni layer was relaxed after ion irradiation. Though the interface between the top Cu layer and the Ni layer becomes rough, the contrast of electron densities of Cu and Ni layer increases and the grain-growth occurs during ion irradiation. These phenomena arise from thermo-chemical driving force, i.e. heat of formation, which may be a crucial factor in determining the interface shape in the case of indirect energy transfer mechanism. Therefore, the change of the magnetic anisotropy of the Ni/Cu system after ion irradiation is not due to the formation of the intermixed layer at the interface. The ion irradiation effects on the grain-growth and enhancement of the electronic contrast between Ni and Cu are explained by the interfacial atomic movement caused by thermo-chemical driving force.     

Absolute magnetometry on ultrathin 3d-metal films by UHV-SQUID

Recently a combination of SQUID magnetometry with an UHV chamber and cooling capabilities was developed. This allows us to measure the remanent magnetization in statu nascendi with submonolayer sensitivity. Co and Ni films 2–20 monolayers (ML) thick were grown on Cu(0 0 1) and measured at temperatures between 40 and 300 K. We deduced separately surface and interface magnetic moment contributions by analyzing thickness-dependent moments of Co/Cu(0 0 1) and Cu/Co/Cu(0 0 1). The surface atoms are shown to carry a 32(5)% enhanced moment, while the interface moment is reduced by 17%. For the case of Ni thin films, the magnetization is almost bulk-like. Cu capping reduces the magnetization by 22% at 4 ML film thickness.     

Nuclear magnetic moment of the 57Cu ground state

The nuclear magnetic moment of the ground state of (57)Cu(Iota(pi) = 3/2(-), T(1/2) = 196.3 ms) has been measured to be /mu((57)Cu)/ = (2.00 +/- 0.05)mu(N) using the beta-NMR technique. Together with the known magnetic moment of the mirror partner (57)Ni, the spin expectation value was extracted as = -0.078 +/- 0.13. This is the heaviest isospin mirror T = 1/2 pair above the (40)Ca region for which both ground state magnetic moments have been determined. The discrepancy between the present results and shell-model calculations in the full f p shell giving mu((57)Cu) approximately 2.4mu(N) and approximately 0.5 implies significant shell breaking at (56)Ni with the neutron number N = 28.     

超薄Fe(4(A))膜磁特性极化中子反射研究

利用分子束外延薄膜生长技术,制备了200 (A)V/4 (A) Fe/900 V/MgO(100)薄膜样品,通过X射线反射和极化中子反射两种测量手段获得了薄膜的表面、界面及各层膜厚的相关结构信息.中子反射结果表明,Fe原子磁矩在室温下约为1.0±0.1μB,随着温度的降低,Fe原子磁矩增加,在10 K时达到1.5±0.1μB.利用指数定律拟合磁矩随温度的变化情况,外推得出4(A)铁薄膜样品的居里温度约为310±30 K.

Abstract：

Uhrathin Fe film 200 (A)V/4 (A)Fe/900 (A)V/MgO(100) has been prepared by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The structure parameters, such as the surface and interface roughness and the thickness of each layer, were obtained by X-ray and neutron reflectivity measurement. The magnetic properties of the thin Fe layer were investigated by polarized neutron reflectometry at different temperature. The result shows that the magnetic moment of an Fe atom is about 1.0 ± 0.1 μB at room temperature and increases to 1.5 ±0.1 μBat 10 K. The Curie temperature of the thin Fe film is estimated to be 310 ± 30 K.     

界面结构对Cu/Ni多层膜纳米压痕特性影响的分子动力学模拟

金属多层膜调制周期下降到纳米级时,其力学性质会发生显著改变. Cu-Ni晶格失配度约为2.7%,可以形成共格界面和半共格界面,实验中实现沿[111]方向生长的调制周期为几纳米且具有异孪晶界面结构的Cu/Ni多层膜,其力学性质发生显著改变.本文采用分子动力学方法对共格界面、共格孪晶界面、半共格界面、半共格孪晶界面等四种不同界面结构的Cu/Ni多层膜进行纳米压痕模拟,研究压痕过程中不同界面结构类型的形变演化规律以及位错与界面的相互作用,获取Cu/Ni多层膜不同界面结构对其力学性能的影响特征.计算结果表明,不同界面结构的样品在不同压痕深度时表现出的强化或软化作用机理不同,软化机制主要是由于形成了平行于界面的分位错以及孪晶界面的迁移,强化机制主要是由于界面对位错的限定作用以及失配位错网状结构与孪晶界面迁移时所形成的弓形位错之间的相互作用.     

Magnetic structures of exchange bias Ni/FeF2(1 1 0) interface

Electronic and magnetic structures of ferromagnetic (FM)/antiferromagnetic (AFM), Ni/FeF₂(1 1 0), with a compensated AFM interface are investigated by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method. We find that magnetic structures at the AFM interface are perturbed by a contact with the FM material, where the superexchange interaction through the interface F excites and induces a small net moment at the AFM interface. These results predicted may play an important role for explaining the exchange bias in this system, and rule out the exchange bias mechanisms with the spin-flop coupling and the magnetic moment reorientation.     

X-ray and neutron reflectivity analysis of thin films and superlattices

X-ray and neutron reflectivity measurements provide a wealth of information on thickness and interfacial properties on the nanometer scale. This method is therefore well suited for the study of nano-structured thin films and superlattices. Neutrons provide a different contrast between the elements than X-rays and, in addition, are sensitive to the magnetization in the sample. Using polarized neutrons, magnetic as well as chemical profiles can be probed. In this review a basic introduction into the theory of X-ray and neutron reflectivity is provided along with some recent examples including the oxidation of Fe films and the structural and magnetic properties of Co/Cu superlattices.     

Neutron diffraction analysis of a compositionally modulated alloy of nickel-copper

A compositionally modulated Ni_0.4Cu_0.6 alloy, made in a thin film of 1.8 μm thickness, was examined by polarized neutron diffraction. The results show that the material is ferromagnetic, with a large enhancement of the magnetic moment (0.3μ_B/Ni) with respect to a disordered alloy. The behaviour of the magnetic moments gives strong evidence of chemical clustering.     

Polarized neutron reflection study of an Er/Fe multilayer

Low angle polarized neutron scattering experiments have been performed on an Er91 Å/Fe39 Å multilayer. The evolution of the intensity of the first peak with the temperature and the external magnetic field shows that the average magnetizations of Fe and Er layers are in the applied field direction. The study of the intensities of the second and the third peaks indicates that there is an interface effect: some erbium atoms remain antiferromagnetically coupled to iron at the interface.     

Upper limit to magnetism in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures

Using polarized neutron reflectometry we measured the neutron spin-dependent reflectivity from four LaAlO(3)/SrTiO(3) superlattices. Our results imply that the upper limit for the magnetization averaged over the lateral dimensions of the sample induced by an 11 T magnetic field at 1.7 K is less than 2 G. SQUID magnetometry of the neutron superlattice samples sporadically finds an enhanced moment, possibly due to experimental artifacts. These observations set important restrictions on theories which imply a strongly enhanced magnetism at the interface between LaAlO(3) and SrTiO(3).     

超薄Fe(4?)膜磁特性极化中子反射研究

Ultrathin Fe film 200  V/4  Fe/900  V/MgO（100） has been prepared by molecular beam epitaxy （MBE）. The structure parameters, such as the surface and interface roughness and the thickness of each layer, were obtained by X-ray and neutron reflectivity mea 关键词： 超薄Fe膜 磁特性 极化中子反射 分子束外延