Effects of interlayer exchange coupling on transport properties of Co∕Pd metallic multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Abstract

Ru-mediated interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) was introduced in Co∕Pd(111) metallic multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The magnetic and electronic transport properties were investigated. The magnetically controlled Co∕Pd(111) multilayers exhibited unique resistivity changes. This is quite common in perpendicular antiferromagnetically (AF) coupled systems where the AF coupled multilayer stacks switch separately during field reversal. However, we found that even within the stacks, the individual ferromagnetic layers switch separately, such that the AF configurations are present during reversal even within the same multilayer stack. On considering the magnetic reversal and transport properties of the Co∕Pd multilayers, the IEC was found to cause antiferromagnetic alignment inside a multilayer stack that was sandwiched between two Ru layers. This phenomenon is mainly due to the thicker Pd films between the Co layers that allow more decoupling of individual Co layers than those employed in most of the previous studies.

Ru‐mediated interlayer exchange coupling in Co/Pd and Co/Au multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

“…On considering the magnetic reversal and transport properties of the Co/Pd multilayers, the IEC was found to cause AF alignment inside a submultilayer. This mechanism has been discussed in detail in our previous report [7]. Figure 3 illustrates the results of the VSM measurements for the samples of Co/Au(111) multilayers with and without Ru layers.…”

“…[7]). On inserting the Ru layers, the resulting magnetic coupling between the Co layers changes the shape of the magnetization curve.…”

The influence of a copper spacer on the magnetic properties of Pd/Co/Cu/Pd multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy

“…For t Cu ⩽ 4 Å, a maze-like domain structure may be observed, along with worm-like and circular domains. Such domain patterns are usually observed in Co/Pd systems presenting PMA [19,64,65]. Since these images are very similar, MFM profiles measured along straight lines, as that illustrated in the top panel of figure 5, were used to characterize the domain patterns [19].…”