Layer selective magnetic moment distribution in an epitaxial double spin valve structure: Si(001)/Cu/FeNi/Cu/Co/Cu/FeNi/Cu

Conference item

We determine layer selectively the magnetic moments, spin orientations and thicknessess of an epitaxial double spin valve structure, Si(001)/Cu/FeNi/Cu /Co/Cu/FeNi/Cu, using Polarised Neutron Reflectivity (PNR). At saturation, the layer-averaged magnetic moment per Co atom was found to be 1.71 ± 0.08 μB, while the top (bottom) FeNi layer moment was 1.08 ± 0.06 μB (0.95 ± 0.08 μB). For an applied field strength H, smaller than the Co layer coercive field of -100 Oe, the Co and FeNi layer magnetisation vectors are found to lie in-plane but canted with respect to each other in contrast to the fully antiparallel state predicted by simple energy minimisation. The observed canting is discussed with regard to the role of magnetic domains in the Co layer. -. © 1999 IEEE.

Authors: Choi, B; Samad, A; Lee, W; Langridge, S; Penfold, J

• Publication status: Published
• Host title: IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 3847-3849
• Publication date: 1999-09-01
• DOI: 10.1109/20.800685
• ISSN: 0018-9464
• Keywords: Polarised Neutron Reflectivity; magnetic films and multilayers