Enhanced magnetic moments in Co/Mn multilayers: structural and magnetic investigations

Mechanisms of coercive force in Co/Mn multilayers

“…The spin structure and crystalline structure of M AF layers in an M F =M AF multilayer, which are different from those of bulk M AF ; have been examined in several studies [11][12][13][14][15]. In an M F =M AF multilayer system, interactions among electrons such as s-d and d-d through the M F 2M AF interface induce inherent magnetic phenomena such as exchange bias [1][2][3][4][5], interlayer interaction [16][17][18] and enhanced magnetic moment [19,20] depending on the structure of the multilayer. Such structurally sensitive magnetic properties of an M F =M AF multilayer system make clarification of the mechanisms of exchange bias and coercive force difficult.…”

“…At low temperature, enhanced magnetizations were observed in Ni(20 ( A)/Mn(t Mn ) and Co(6 ( A)/ Mn(t Mn ) multilayers [19,20]. The Mn layers in Co(6 ( A)/Mn(t Mn ) had a sub-layer structure [20], while the Mn layers in Ni(20 ( A)/Mn(t Mn ) had single phase and expanded interplanar spacing [19].…”

“…The Mn layers in Co(6 ( A)/Mn(t Mn ) had a sub-layer structure [20], while the Mn layers in Ni(20 ( A)/Mn(t Mn ) had single phase and expanded interplanar spacing [19]. The sub-layer structure is composed of outer sub-layers, which have an expanded interplanar spacing and are in contact with the interfaces, and an inner sub-layer with a relaxed interplanar spacing.…”

“…Thus, in Ni/Mn and Co/Mn multilayer systems, a method for qualitative characterization of structures and magnetic states has already been established [19,20]. In a Co/Mn multilayer in which the interfacial exchange coupling is antiferromagnetic [20,21], the saturation of Co layers is easily confirmed from the absolute value of magnetization per Co mass being larger than the saturation magnetization of bulk Co [20].…”

“…In a Co/Mn multilayer in which the interfacial exchange coupling is antiferromagnetic [20,21], the saturation of Co layers is easily confirmed from the absolute value of magnetization per Co mass being larger than the saturation magnetization of bulk Co [20]. The structures and magnetic properties of a Co/Mn multilayer depend greatly on Co layer thickness [20,22]. In this paper, the Co layer thickness dependence of structures, the common sate, the affected regions in Co layers, and the easy directions of Co and Mn layers in Co(t Co )/ Mn(20 ( A) multilayers are qualitatively clarified.…”