XMCD studies of magnetic polarization at Mo atoms in CoMo alloy and magnetically coupled Co/Mo multilayers

Magnetic polarization of Mo atoms in Co96Mo4 alloy film and Co/Mo multilayered structures has been studied by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. Samples with Mo spacers of two different thicknesses (0.9   nm and 1.8   nm) were investigated. Mo atoms receive a magnetic moment of − 0.21 μ B in the alloy. In the multilayer with the thinner Mo spacer (dMo = 0.9   nm) the magnetic moment is much smaller ( − 0.03 μ B). In both cases the measured induced moment at the Mo site is oriented antiparallel to the moment at the Co atoms. The presence of the induced moment in the Mo spacer coincides with antiferromagnetic coupling between the Co component slabs. In contrast, neither measurable induced moment at the Mo site nor interlayer coupling between the Co layers has been found for the multilayer with the thicker Mo spacer. Possible mechanisms of the coupling associated with the induced moment are discussed in detail.

Source: Journal of Synchrotron Radiation - August 2, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Wawro, A. Mili ń ska, E. Kurant, Z. Pietruczik, A. Kanak, J. Ollefs, K. Wilhelm, F. Rogalev, A. Maziewski, A. Tags: interlayer magnetic coupling induced magnetic moment magnetic multilayers X-ray magnetic circular dichroism research papers Source Type: research