MAGNETIC CIRCULAR X-RAY DICHROISM STUDIES OF FE/TB MULTILAYERS

The local magnetic structure of TbFe multilayers with various layer thicknesses of Tb (26 angstrom) and Fe (10, 20, 30 and 35 angstrom) has been investigated by circular magnetic x-ray dichroism (CMXD) studies. From the dichroic signal at the L3 edge both the local magnetic Th moment and the anisotropic behavior of the Th compound could be deduced. The magnetic spectra at the Th L2 edge and the Fe K edge, which are known to be sensitive to the local chemical environment, have been used to obtain information on the binding characters of the magnetized atoms in the various TbFe compositions. Significant deviations of the CMXD spectra compared to the corresponding spectra in the pure Fe and Th metals have been observed. This indicates significant contributions to the magnetism from an interface region, whose chemical structure resembles strongly those of the intermetallic TbFe2 compounds.