Non-oscillatory antiferromagnetic coupling in sputtered Fe/Si superlattices

Eric E. Fullerton, J. E. Mattson, S. R. Lee, C. H. Sowers, Y. Y. Huang, G. Felcher, S. D. Bader, F. T. Parker

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139 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A series of sputtered Fe(30 Å)/Si(x) superlattices were grown for x = 10-40 A ̊. Magnetization and Kerr hysteresis loops, and neutron-reflectivity measurements identify antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling of the Fe layers at room temperature for x = 15 A ̊ nominal thickness, with switching fields of 6 kOe. X-ray structural analyses indicate that the spacer medium is crystalline for x < 20 Å while sputtered Si is amorphous (a). Failure to detect oscillations in the AF coupling for thicker Si layers is due to the formation of a-Si, as opposed to the crystalline silicide responsible for the coupling.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L301-L306
JournalJournal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Volume117
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1992 Dec

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supportedb y the US Department of Energy, BES-MaterialsS ciencesu, nder contract W-31-109-ENG-38.J .E.M. was supported by the NSF MRG contractN o. DMR-86-03304, S.R.L. was supportedb y the Ministry of Educationo f the Korean Governmenat,n dF.T.P. was supportedb y NSF contract No. DMR-87-07421.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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