Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin films

The structural and magnetic properties of two series of [Gd(2, 4 nm)/Fe(t)]n multilayer films with varying Fe thickness were investigated and compared to those of amorphous ferrimagnetic GdFe alloys of the same corresponding composition. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed the high in...

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Main Authors: Julian Hintermayr, Aladin Ullrich, Manfred Albrecht
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2021-09-01
Series:AIP Advances
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0057667
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author Julian Hintermayr
Aladin Ullrich
Manfred Albrecht
author_facet Julian Hintermayr
Aladin Ullrich
Manfred Albrecht
author_sort Julian Hintermayr
collection DOAJ
description The structural and magnetic properties of two series of [Gd(2, 4 nm)/Fe(t)]n multilayer films with varying Fe thickness were investigated and compared to those of amorphous ferrimagnetic GdFe alloys of the same corresponding composition. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed the high interface quality of both multilayer series. Furthermore, the microstructure was analyzed, revealing polycrystallinity in both Gd and Fe layers with strong (101̄0)-oriented textured growth of Gd particularly for the multilayer series with 2 nm Gd. Magnetic measurements confirm an out-of-plane magnetic easy axis in the alloy samples and an in-plane magnetic easy axis in all multilayer samples. Twisted spin states in samples with a low remanent magnetization were identified. Magnetic compensation points of both multilayer series are compared to those of the alloy samples. It was found that the dependence of the magnetic compensation point on effective Gd concentration in the series with 2 nm Gd closely resembles the strong dependence observed in the alloy counterparts. In contrast, a weaker dependence is revealed for the multilayer series with 4 nm Gd, which makes this system more robust against variations in composition required for applications.
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spelling doaj.art-8e201a3608ec42cdabda7a7cef38384e2022-12-21T20:02:38ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262021-09-01119095214095214-910.1063/5.0057667Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin filmsJulian Hintermayr0Aladin Ullrich1Manfred Albrecht2Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstraße 1, D-86159 Augsburg, GermanyInstitute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstraße 1, D-86159 Augsburg, GermanyInstitute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstraße 1, D-86159 Augsburg, GermanyThe structural and magnetic properties of two series of [Gd(2, 4 nm)/Fe(t)]n multilayer films with varying Fe thickness were investigated and compared to those of amorphous ferrimagnetic GdFe alloys of the same corresponding composition. Transmission electron microscopy studies confirmed the high interface quality of both multilayer series. Furthermore, the microstructure was analyzed, revealing polycrystallinity in both Gd and Fe layers with strong (101̄0)-oriented textured growth of Gd particularly for the multilayer series with 2 nm Gd. Magnetic measurements confirm an out-of-plane magnetic easy axis in the alloy samples and an in-plane magnetic easy axis in all multilayer samples. Twisted spin states in samples with a low remanent magnetization were identified. Magnetic compensation points of both multilayer series are compared to those of the alloy samples. It was found that the dependence of the magnetic compensation point on effective Gd concentration in the series with 2 nm Gd closely resembles the strong dependence observed in the alloy counterparts. In contrast, a weaker dependence is revealed for the multilayer series with 4 nm Gd, which makes this system more robust against variations in composition required for applications.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0057667
spellingShingle Julian Hintermayr
Aladin Ullrich
Manfred Albrecht
Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin films
AIP Advances
title Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin films
title_full Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin films
title_fullStr Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin films
title_full_unstemmed Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin films
title_short Structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic [Gd/Fe]n multilayer and GdxFe100−x thin films
title_sort structure and magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic gd fe n multilayer and gdxfe100 x thin films
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0057667
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AT manfredalbrecht structureandmagneticpropertiesofferrimagneticgdfenmultilayerandgdxfe100xthinfilms