| Summary: | U/Fe multilayers constitute a magnetic system in which the 3d magnetism of the Fe layers will be modified by hybridization with the U 5f electrons. This paper describes a programme of measurements of the magnetic behaviour of these systems beginning with the fabrication and thorough characterization of the samples. Metallic U/Fe multilayers were prepared by DC sputtering in a UHV chamber. A range of samples with measured U thicknesses, t U, in the range 18-66 Å and Fe thicknesses, t Fe, from 7 to 108 Å was fabricated. X-ray and neutron reflectivity measurements showed strong peaks indicating good layer structure and gave a determination of the bilayer thickness. X-ray diffraction analysis showed crystalline α-U and α-Fe for layer thicknesses greater than about 20 Å. The α-Fe is strongly textured with (110) planes in the layer plane. The Fe lattice parameter is larger for the case of thin layers, but approaches the bulk value of 2.866 Å at t Fe ∼ 75 Å. Mössbauer spectra of α-Fe were obtained for t Fe ≥ 18 Å; a non-magnetic component of thickness ∼12 Å per layer is always present. The results from these different experimental techniques are combined to present a detailed description of these multilayer systems.
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