Abstract
The interlayer magnetic coupling of a Fe/Si/Fe trilayer shows an analogous feature to that of Fe/Si superlattices. With an increase in Si layer thickness, it oscillates as ferromagnetic (first F), antiferromagnetic (AF), ferromagnetic (second F), and finally reaches a noncoupling (N) state. We have investigated interlayer coupling of Fe/Si/Fe trilayers inserting very thin (1 or 2 ML thick) boundary layers X (X=Ag, Ge, Fe-Si, Ta, etc.). They are expected to suppress interatomic diffusion between Fe and Si layers. Interlayer coupling of Fe/X/Si/X/Fe with negligible interdiffusion is simply F and changes to N as the Si layer thickness increases. Furthermore, Fe/Fe-Si/Fe trilayers which show coupling of first F, AF but not second F, reproduce second F when a Si layer is inserted in the Fe-Si spacer. These results imply that an amorphous Si spacer mediates ferromagnetic coupling between neighboring Fe layers while the first F and the strong AF coupling usually observed in Fe/Si superlattices are caused by diffused crystalline Fe-Si.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 5741-5743 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Physics |
| Volume | 85 |
| Issue number | 8 II B |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 Apr 15 |
| Event | Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Conference on Magnetism and Magnetic Materials - Miami, FL, United States Duration: 1998 Nov 9 → 1998 Nov 12 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)