Abstract
The Fe spin structure in ultrahigh-vacuum-deposited hcp Tb(t Tb )/bcc Fe(t Fe ) multilayers (t Tb and t Fe are the Tb and Fe layer thicknesses respectively) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and large coercivity at low temperatures was investigated by 57 Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy, the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect, and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. A spontaneous reversible temperature-driven Fe spin reorientation transition from orientation parallel to the film plane to an out-of plane orientation (with Fe spins tilted by an angle relative to the film normal direction) was observed upon cooling below the reorientation temperature T R . At a fixed value of t Tb , T R was found to follow a t -1 Fe behaviour, indicating that the PMA originates from the interfaces. Upon cooling, the perpendicular remanent magnetization shows a step-like increase near the magnetic ordering temperature of Tb, contrary to (T), which exhibits no such anomaly. Apparently, strong coupling of Fe layers via magnetic Tb layers affects the perpendicular magnetic domain structure at remanence. Further, 57 Fe probe layer Mossbauer results concerning structure, composition and Fe spin orientation within Fe-on-Tb and Tb-on-Fe interfaces are reported.
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