Effect of exchange springs on the coercivity of DyFe2-YFe2 superlattices

Journal article

The coercivity of MBE-grown Laves-phase DyFe2-YFe2 thin-layered (≤ 50 Å) superlattice samples, with a (110) growth direction, can be varied by adjusting the relative thickness of the YFe 2 and DyFe2 layers. However, for sufficiently thick layers, the coercivity is found to be dependent on the thickness of the YFe 2 layers, even when the ratio of DyFe2/YFe2 is fixed. This feature is illustrated using the superlattice films [wDyFe 2/wYFe2] x 40, with, w = 75, 100 and 150 A. The underlying reason for the decrease in coercivity with increasing width w, is traced to the action of the magnetic exchange springs in the YFe2 layers. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Authors: Beaujour, J; Bowden, G; Gordeev, S; de Groot, P; Rainford, B

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: JOURNAL OF MAGNETISM AND MAGNETIC MATERIALS
• Volume: 226
• Issue: PART II
• Pages: 1714-1716
• Publication date: 2001-05-01
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-8853(00)00869-6
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• Language: English
• Keywords: MBE; exchange-spring magnets; coercivity; magnetic multilayers