Thermal variation of magnetization in Ni/V multilayers

Abstract

The magnetic properties of Ni/V multilayers, prepared by the RF sputtering method, have been systematically studied by magnetic measurements. The magnetization decreases with a decrease in Ni layer thickness t Ni and the analysis of the results at 5 K indicates the presence of a dead Ni layer about 12 Å thick. The effective anisotropy K eff of Ni/V multilayers is obtained using a torque magnetometer. The interface contribution to the magnetic anisotropy is practically negligible. A spin-wave theory has been used to explain the temperature dependence of the magnetization and the approximate values for the bulk exchange interaction J b , surface exchange interaction J S , and the interlayer coupling strength J I for various Ni layer thicknesses have been obtained.