Magnetism of uranium/iron multilayers: I. Fabrication and characterization

Journal article

U/Fe multilayers constitute a magnetic system in which the 3d magnetism of the Fe layers will be modified by hybridization with the U 5f electrons. This paper describes a programme of measurements of the magnetic behaviour of these systems beginning with the fabrication and thorough characterization of the samples. Metallic U/Fe multilayers were prepared by DC sputtering in a UHV chamber. A range of samples with measured U thicknesses, t U, in the range 18-66 Å and Fe thicknesses, t Fe, from 7 to 108 Å was fabricated. X-ray and neutron reflectivity measurements showed strong peaks indicating good layer structure and gave a determination of the bilayer thickness. X-ray diffraction analysis showed crystalline α-U and α-Fe for layer thicknesses greater than about 20 Å. The α-Fe is strongly textured with (110) planes in the layer plane. The Fe lattice parameter is larger for the case of thin layers, but approaches the bulk value of 2.866 Å at t Fe ∼ 75 Å. Mössbauer spectra of α-Fe were obtained for t Fe ≥ 18 Å; a non-magnetic component of thickness ∼12 Å per layer is always present. The results from these different experimental techniques are combined to present a detailed description of these multilayer systems.

Authors: Beesley, A; Thomas, M; Herring, A; Ward, R; Wells, MR

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 47
• Pages: 8491-8505
• Publication date: 2004-12-01
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/16/47/004
• EISSN: 1361-648X
• ISSN: 0953-8984
• Language: English