Resonant magnetic scattering and soft X-ray L-MOKE from Co/Cu multilayers

Magnetic order in Co/Cu multilayers studied by polarized soft X-rays and neutrons

“…It is the goal of the present paper to investigate the antiferromagnetic (afm) order in Co/Cu multilayers tuned to the 2nd coupling maximum of the GMR, and their corresponding domain structure, by magnetic scattering techniques. Applying soft X-ray reflectivity, the afm alignment in Co/Cu multilayers was proved by the appearance of a half-integer order Bragg peak [1][2][3]. As will be shown below, due to the high intensity of the undulator radiation of a synchrotron, in a strongly coupled sample with smooth interfaces, peaks up to the 3rd order are resolved, allowing a detailed analysis of the structural and magnetic multilayer properties.…”

“…This is reflected e.g. by the particular shape of hysteresis loops measured at the 1 2 order peak [3]. The 1 2 order peak can be furthermore enhanced by polarized neutron reflectivity (PNR), which is represented in the lower curve in Fig.…”

“…By X-ray scattering, the measurement of element-selective hysteresis loops is also feasible (e.g. [3]). However, polarization analysis of the scattered radiation is more easily available for neutron scattering, directly allowing to separate structural and magnetic scattering contributions and yielding additional orientation characteristics of the magnetic order [4,5].…”

X-ray resonant magnetic scattering by Fe/Cr superlattices

“…Moreover, a varying external magnetic field can be applied during XRMS measurements, such that the magnetization reversal at corresponding L absorption edges can be followed, i.e. element-selective hysteresis loops can be measured [19,20].…”

Soft x-ray longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effect measured from Co/Cu multilayers at the Co L2,3 edges

“…Employing the technique of soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering, the presence of a half-integer-order magnetic peak in Co/Cu multilayer samples was first noticed by Sève et al 1 Subsequent investigations correlated changes of this magnetic peak to magnetic and transport properties. 4,5 In the present article, we report on improved X-MOKE studies of Co/Cu multilayers at the Co L 2,3 absorption edges using circularly polarized synchrotron radiation. In contrast to our previous investigations showing only the first-order magnetic peak, 5 we were also able to resolve higher-order peaks, which are even more sensitive to magnetic effects.…”