Induced magnetism at the interfaces of a Fe/V superlattice investigated by resonant magnetic x-ray scattering

Abstract

The induced magnetic moments in the V 3d electronic states of interface atomic layers in a Fe(6ML)/V(7ML) superlattice was investigated by x-ray resonant magnetic scattering. The first V atomic layer next to Fe was found to be strongly antiferromagnetically polarized relatively to Fe and the magnetic moments of the next few atomic layers in the interior V region decay exponentially with increasing distance from the interface, while the magnetic moments of the Fe atomic layers largely remain bulk-like. The induced V moments decay more rapidly as observed by x-ray magnetic scattering than in standard x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The theoretical description of the induced magnetic atomic layer profile in V was found to strongly rely on the interface roughness within the superlattice period. These results provide new insight into interface magnetism by taking advantage of the enhanced depth sensitivity to the magnetic profile over a certain resonant energy bandwidth in the vicinity of the Bragg angles.

Chemical bonding and electronic-structure in MAX phases as viewed by X-ray spectroscopy and density functional theory

“…Hence, besides the existing controversial theoretical interpretations about which type of AFM coupling dominates (i.e., in-plane or out-of-plane), the evident disagreement between theory (AFM) and experiment (FM) in determining the lower energy magnetic ordering in Cr 2 GeC calls for the need of further experimental and theoretical efforts [73] [154] [17] [115] [155]. Experimentally, an alternative and more bulksensitive spectroscopic technique than XMCD [50], such as resonant magnetic X-ray scattering (XRMS) [156] utilizing constructive interference at suitable Bragg scattering angles [21] would be more useful for measuring weak magnetic signals in nanolaminates.…”

Magnetic Structure and Strain State in Fe/V Superlattices Studied by 57Fe+ Emission and Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy

“…The magnetic interaction between ferromagnetic layers across a non-magnetic metal spacer layer is of particular interest in application of low-dimensional magnetic systems owning to several interesting phenomena and properties, such as giant magnetoresistance, oscillating interlayer coupling and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy [1][2][3]. Fe/V superlattices have been a benchmark for various studies on such nanoscale magnetic systems [4][5][6][7][8][9]. The system shows a great variety of magnetic structures depending on the thickness of the individual Fe-and V-layer, chemical ordering and quality of the interface [4,5,[10][11][12].…”

Interlayer Exchange Coupling and Proximity Effect in V-Fe Multilayers

“…Fe/V multilayers (MLs) have been used recently as a model system in studies of interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) [1][2][3], proximity effect [4][5][6], and hydrogen absorption [7][8]. The experiments on IEC performed previously have been limited to the second and third antiferromagnetic (AFM) maxima [1] or measurements at room temperature [3].…”