Element-specific magnetic moment profile in BCCFe/Co superlattices

BCC Fe/Co superlattices with individual layer thicknesses in the range of 2-9 monolayers have been investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism in combination with SQUID magnetometry in order to study the magnetic moment distribution in the superlattices. The magnetic moment for Co was found to remain constant, within 0-1 mu(B)/atom, at 1.6 mu(B)/atom for all the superlattices. The Fe atoms at the interface have an enhanced moment of about 3.0 mu(B)/atom. In addition, a complex dependence of the size of the moments on the thickness of the Fe layer was found and attributed to interface roughness effects. Element-specific hysteresis curves were also recorded. These measurements show that the magnetic moments of Fe and Co were, as expected, coupled during reversal of the magnetic moment direction. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.