Interface structure and magnetism of Fe/Cr multilayers

Abstract

The interface structure and magnetism of Fe/Cr multilayers (MLs) have been investigated as a function of the thickness of Fe and Cr layers by conversion electron Mossbauer spectroscopy (CEMS), magnetization and magnetoresistance (MR) measurements. The CEM spectra show the change of the interface structure in [Fe 0.3 mn/Cr]200 MLs with Cr layer thickness and the highest average value of distributed hyperfine fields (Hhf) for 1.2 nm Cr layer thickness. On the other hands, the average Hhf in [Fe 0.9 nm/Cr]67 MLs are almost same values for the all Cr layer thickness measured here. The average Hhf and the saturation magnetization decrease with decreasing Fe layer thickness. Furthermore, the magnetization and the MR curves behave differently in 0.3 nm and 0.9 nm Fe layer thickness depending on Cr layer thickness, most probably due to the different interface structures.