Hydrogen-induced changes of the structural and magnetic properties of cerium/iron multilayers

Multilayers of Ce and Fe show a low Curie temperature and saturation magnetization below a critical thickness of the individual Fe layers where amorphous growth occurs. We have studied on a series of such multilayers with different modulation lengths prepared by ion-beam sputtering the impact of hydrogen absorption on their magnetic properties. Hydrogenation was performed during film growth either reactively by introducing hydrogen gas into the UHV chamber or by irradiation with a beam of low-energy hydrogen ions. Hydrogen is absorbed only in the Ce layers, with a concentration near CeH₂. For suitable modulation lengths, the Curie temperature and saturation magnetization are considerably enhanced with respect to the non-hydrided multilayers. This is correlated with the changes in structure and the quality of the interfaces induced by hydrogenation: the irradiation process itself reduces the critical thickness for amorphous growth of Fe, and the chemical interaction of hydrogen causes a considerable sharpening of the interfaces.     

Noncollinear magnetic hyperfine fields in the Ag spacers of Fe/Ag multilayers

Nearly perpendicular magnetic hyperfine fields have been observed for the first time in the Ag "spacers" of Fe/Ag multilayers using low temperature nuclear orientation of (110)Ag(m) at 6 mK. At the same time, vibrating sample magnetometry measurements at temperatures down to 4 K have shown the magnetic anisotropy of the Fe to be in plane. The direction of the Ag hyperfine field is thus noncollinear (nearly orthogonal) to the Fe anisotropy. These results are compared with full potential linearized augmented plane wave calculations using the wien97 code.     

Ion induced modification in structural and magnetic properties of Pt/Cr/Co multilayers

This paper reports on the change in the magnetic and the structural properties of Pt/Cr/Co multilayers due to 1 MeV N⁺-ion irradiation at room temperature. We observe irradiation induced formation of the CoCrPt ternary alloy phase at a fluence of 1×10¹⁶ ions cm^?2. Phase formation is accompanied by an enhancement in the coercivity. The enhancement in the coercivity is attributed to inhomogeneous alloying and possible mixing-induced strain. These findings are explained in the light of ion beam induced recoil mixing and ionization events.     

High temperature annealing effect on structural and magnetic properties of Ti/Ni multilayers

High temperature annealing effect on structural and magnetic properties of Ti/Ni multilayer (ML) up to 600 °C have been studied and reported in this paper. Ti/Ni multilayer samples having constant layer thicknesses of 50 Å each are deposited on float glass and Si(1 1 1) substrates using electron-beam evaporation technique under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions at room temperatures. The micro-structural parameters and their evolution with temperature for as-deposited as well as annealed multilayer samples up to 600 °C in a step of 100 °C for 1 h are determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity techniques. The X-ray diffraction pattern recorded at 300 °C annealed multilayer sample shows interesting structural transformation (from crystalline to amorphous) because of the solid-state reaction (SSR) and subsequent re-crystallization at higher temperatures of annealing, particularly at ≥400 °C due to the formation of TiNi₃ and Ti₂Ni alloy phases. Sample quality and surface morphology are examined by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique for both as-deposited as well as annealed multilayer samples. In addition to this, a temperature dependent dc resistivity measurement is also used to study the structural transformation and subsequent alloy phase formation due to annealing treatment. The corresponding magnetization behavior of multilayer samples after each stage of annealing has been investigated by using Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) technique and results are interpreted in terms of observed micro-structural changes.     

Some interesting behaviors observed in nanostructured magnetic multilayers with alloy spacers

Received: 27 March 1998     

Magnetic and structural properties of Fe/Cu multilayers

Fe/Cu multilayers with Fe and Cu layers of equal thicknesses were grown by high-vacuum evaporation on Si(1 1 1) substrates at room temperature. The crystal orientation, the thickness of the elemental layers and the interplanar distances were analysed by both low- and high-angle X-ray diffraction in the θ–2θ configuration. The magnetic properties of Fe/Cu multilayers were studied by both a static and a dynamic technique, namely surface magneto-optical Kerr effect (SMOKE) and Brillouin light scattering (BLS). Longitudinal SMOKE cycles permitted us to determine the orientation of the easy axis of the magnetization and to put in evidence an appreciable in-plane magnetic anisotropy in multilayers with low periodicity and highly coherent structure. Polar loops were then used to determine the out-of-plane anisotropy fields, showing that both first- and second-order contributions are to be considered in order to reproduce the hysteresis cycle. BLS was then exploited to detect thermaly excited spin waves through inelastic scattering of light. The out-of-plane anisotropy fields evaluated by this high-frequency dynamic technique compare fairly well with the first-order values obtained by analysis of polar SMOKE hysteresis cycles.     

Effects of thermal annealing on structural and magnetic properties of thin Pt/Cr/Co multilayers

Thermal stability of thin Pt/Cr/Co multilayers and the subsequent changes in their structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties are reported. We observe CoCrPt ternary alloy phase formation due to annealing at temperatures about 773 K, which is accompanied by enhancement in the coercivity value. In addition, 360° domain wall superimposed on a monodomain like background has been observed in the pristine multilayer, which changes into a multidomain upon annealing at 873 K.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Ni/Pt multilayers

In this work, the variation of the magnetic moments of the Ni/Pt multilayers are studied using the linearized augmented plane waves (LAPW) method in the framework of the density functional theory (DFT) implemented in the version of WIEN2K program. The systems have been modeled by seven layers slab separated in z direction by a vacuum region of four substrate layers. We present the results of the dependence of the magnetic properties with respect to the thickness variation of the different multilayers. The modeling of these systems finds an important empirical support. Experiment and theory show the same trends for the magnetic moments: hybridization effects between Ni and Pt are mostly localized at the interface.     

Structural and magnetic properties of La/Fe multilayers

The structural and magnetic properties of La/Fe multilayers were investigated by X-ray diffraction, RHEED, magnetometry and⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Comparison is made with previous results obtained for Ce/Fe multilayers. Remarkably sharp interfaces are found, with roughness between 2 and 2.5 Å. The magnetic interface in the Fe sublayers resulting from the distribution of magnetic hyperfine fields distinctly exceeds the extension of the structural interface and points to a magnetic proximity effect. This is discussed in relation to a strong 3d-5d hybridization recently found in measurements of magnetic circular X-ray dichroism. Both the structural and magnetic La/Fe interface is less extended than the interface in Ce/Fe multilayers. Below a thickness of about 25 Å, the individual Fe layers grow in an amorphous structure on the La layers. In this case, Curie temperatures are below 200 K and the Fe-layer saturation magnetization is reduced up to 50%, and there is evidence of a non-collinear spin structure. It is argued that this mainly reflects the properties of pure amorphous Fe.     

Structure and magnetic properties of wedged Co/Ti multilayers

Co/Ti multilayers with wedge-shaped Co or Ti sublayers were prepared using UHV (5×10⁻¹⁰ mbar) DC/RF magnetron sputtering. The planar growth of the Co and Ti layers was confirmed in situ by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cobalt sublayers grow on sufficiently thick titanium sublayers in the soft magnetic nanocrystalline phase up to a critical thickness d_crit3.0 nm. For a thickness greater than d_crit, the Co sublayers undergo a structural transition to the polycrystalline phase with much higher coercivity. Furthermore, for the Co/Ti multilayers with nanocrystalline Co sublayers with d_Co=2.7 nm we have observed a significant drop of the coercivity — typically from H_c3.5 kA/m to H_c0.2 kA/m — for Ti thickness d_Ti0.35 nm. The above effect could be explained by the existence of a minimum Ti sublayer thickness (d_min0.35 nm), which is required for the nanocrystalline growth of Co, and/or the formation of quasi-continuous non-magnetic layers for d_Tid_min giving rise to a decrease of the exchange energy between Co sublayers. Magnetic domains and walls studies revealed the structural transitions of the Co sublayers.     

用不同的Mo靶溅射功率制备Mo/Si多层膜

用磁控溅射法制备了周期厚度和周期数均相同的Mo/Si多层膜,用原子力显微镜和小角X射线衍射分别研究了Mo靶溅射功率不相同时,Mo/Si多层膜表面形貌和晶相的变化。随后在国家同步辐射实验室测量了Mo/Si多层膜的软X射线反射率。研究发现,随着Mo靶溅射功率的增大,Mo/Si多层膜的表面粗糙度增加,Mo的特征X射线衍射峰也增强,Mo/Si多层膜的软X射线峰值反射率先增大后减小。     

用不同的Mo靶溅射功率制备Mo/Si多层膜

 用磁控溅射法制备了周期厚度和周期数均相同的Mo/Si多层膜,用原子力显微镜和小角X射线衍射分别研究了Mo靶溅射功率不相同时,Mo/Si多层膜表面形貌和晶相的变化。随后在国家同步辐射实验室测量了Mo/Si多层膜的软X射线反射率。研究发现,随着Mo靶溅射功率的增大,Mo/Si多层膜的表面粗糙度增加,Mo的特征X射线衍射峰也增强,Mo/Si多层膜的软X射线峰值反射率先增大后减小。     

XMCD studies of magnetic polarization at Mo atoms in CoMo alloy and magnetically coupled Co/Mo multilayers

Magnetic polarization of Mo atoms in Co₉₆Mo₄ alloy film and Co/Mo multilayered structures has been studied by X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism. Samples with Mo spacers of two different thicknesses (0.9 nm and 1.8 nm) were investigated. Mo atoms receive a magnetic moment of ?0.21μ_B in the alloy. In the multilayer with the thinner Mo spacer (d_Mo = 0.9 nm) the magnetic moment is much smaller (?0.03μ_B). In both cases the measured induced moment at the Mo site is oriented antiparallel to the moment at the Co atoms. The presence of the induced moment in the Mo spacer coincides with antiferromagnetic coupling between the Co component slabs. In contrast, neither measurable induced moment at the Mo site nor interlayer coupling between the Co layers has been found for the multilayer with the thicker Mo spacer. Possible mechanisms of the coupling associated with the induced moment are discussed in detail.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Pt in Co/Pt multilayers

[Co(30 Å)/Pt(x Å)]₂₀ multilayers with the Pt layer thicknesses varying from 5 Å to 20 Å were characterized structurally by high angle X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetically by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. It is found that the structure and magnetic properties of Pt have a strong correlation with the Pt layer thickness. The 20 Å thickness Pt layer is not almost influenced by the adjacent Co layer and the nearest neighbors are dominated by Pt-Pt shells. With decreasing Pt layer thickness, the nearest neighbors are gradually dominated by Pt-Co shells and the Pt-Co intermixing regions also remarkable increase at the interfaces, especially for the 5 Å thickness Pt layer. The orbital and spin magnetic moments as well as the ratio m_orb/m_spin all decrease systematically with increasing Pt layer thickness, indicating that the interface atoms are polarized by direct Pt-Co hybridization, but that the adjacent layers are polarized by Pt-Pt interactions.     

Structural and magnetic properties of RF sputtered FePt/Fe multilayers

Series of [FePt(4min)/Fe(t_Fe)]₁₀ multilayers have been prepared by RF magnetron sputtering and post-annealing in order to optimize their magnetic properties by structural designs. The structure, surface morphology, composition and magnetic properties of the deposited films have been characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). It is found that after annealing at temperatures above 500 °C, FePt phase undergoes a phase transition from disordered FCC to ordered FCT structure, and becomes a hard magnetic phase. X-ray diffraction studies on the series of [FePt/Fe]_n multilayer with varying Fe layer thickness annealed at 500 and 600 °C show that lattice constants change with Fe layer thickness and annealing temperature. Both lattice constants a and c are smaller than those of standard ones, and lattice constant a decreases as Fe layer deposition time increases. Only a slight increase in grain size was observed as Fe layer decreased in samples annealed at 500 °C. However, the increase in grain size is large in samples annealed at 600 °C. The coercivities of [FePt/Fe]_n multilayers decrease with Fe layer deposition time, and the energy product (BH)_max reaches a maximum in the samples with Fe layer deposition time of 3 min. Comparison of magnetic properties with structure showed an almost linear relationship between the lattice constant a and the coercivities of the FePt phase.     

Investigation of magnetic properties in 57Fe/Al multilayers

Fe/Al multilayer thin films prepared by ion beam sputtering, with an overall atomic concentration ratio of Fe/Al = 1:2 have been studied by x-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and D.C. Magnetization. These studies show the formation of Fe–Al intermetallic layers. Two magnetic regions and transition temperatures of 473 and 533 K are evident from magnetization studies. Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CEMS) shows formation of off-stoichiometric Fe₃Al like phase and phases consisting of pure Fe and Fe-rich extended Fe–Al solutions.     

软X射线Mo/B_4C多层膜应力和热稳定性研究

为了实现7nm波段Mo/B4C多层膜反射镜元件的制备,研究了不同退火方式对Mo/B4C多层膜应力和热稳定性的影响。首先,采用直流磁控溅射方法分别基于石英和硅基板制作Mo/B4C多层膜样品,设计周期为3.58nm、周期数为60,Mo膜层厚度与周期的比值为0.4。其次,采用不同的退火方式对所制作的样品进行退火实验,最高退火温度500℃。最后,分别采用X射线掠入射反射、X射线散射和光学干涉仪的方法对退火前后的Mo/B4C多层膜的周期、界面粗糙度和应力进行测试。测试结果表明采用真空退火方式能够有效降低Mo/B4C多层膜的应力,且退火前后Mo/B4C多层膜的周期和界面粗糙度无明显变化,证明Mo/B4C多层膜在500℃以内具有很好的热稳定性。     

X-ray properties and interface study of B4C/Mo and B4C/Mo2C periodic multilayers

We present a comparative study of B₄C/Mo and B₄C/Mo₂C periodic multilayer structures deposited by magnetron sputtering. The characterization was performed by grazing incidence X-ray reflectometry at two different energies and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results indicate the existence of an interdiffusion layer at the B₄C-on-Mo interface in the B₄C/Mo system. Thus, the B₄C/Mo multilayers were modeled by an asymmetric structure with three layers in each period. The thickness of B₄C-on-Mo interfacial layer was estimated about 1.1 nm. The B₄C/Mo₂C multilayers present less interdiffusion and are well modeled by a symmetric structure without interfacial layers. This study shows that B₄C/Mo₂C structure is an interesting alternative to B₄C/Mo multilayer for X-ray optic applications.     

软X射线Mo/B4C多层膜应力和热稳定性研究

为了实现7 nm波段Mo/B4C多层膜反射镜元件的制备,研究了不同退火方式对Mo/B4C多层膜应力和热稳定性的影响。首先,采用直流磁控溅射方法分别基于石英和硅基板制作Mo/B4C多层膜样品,设计周期为3.58 nm、周期数为60,Mo膜层厚度与周期的比值为0.4。其次,采用不同的退火方式对所制作的样品进行退火实验,最高退火温度500 ℃。最后,分别采用X射线掠入射反射、X射线散射和光学干涉仪的方法对退火前后的Mo/B4C多层膜的周期、界面粗糙度和应力进行测试。测试结果表明采用真空退火方式能够有效降低Mo/B4C多层膜的应力,且退火前后Mo/B4C多层膜的周期和界面粗糙度无明显变化,证明Mo/B4C多层膜在500 ℃以内具有很好的热稳定性。