This article is cited in 6 papers

CONDENSED MATTER

Noncollinear interlayer exchange in Fe/Cr/Fe magnetic structures with different interface roughnesses

N. M. Kreines^a, D. I. Kholin^a, S. O. Demokritov^b, M. Rikart<sup>c

a</sup> P. L. Kapitza Institute for Physical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
^b Department of Physics, Kaiserslautern University of Technology
^c INESC Microsistemas e Nanotecnologia, Lisboa

Abstract: The interaction of iron layers through a chromium spacer in Fe/Cr/Fe trilayers with different roughnesses of interfaces was studied by the Kerr magnetometry and Mandelshtam-Brillouin light scattering techniques so as to trace the interlayer exchange coupling of the Fe layers depending on the Cr spacer thickness and the sample temperature. It is established that, in a broad range of these parameters, the interlayer exchange in Fe/Cr/Fe structures with sufficiently smooth interfaces is adequately described using the proximity magnetism and half-angle coupling models taking into account the antiferromagnetic properties of chromium. As the interface roughness increases, the well-known biquadratic exchange model becomes valid. This is evidence for the decisive role of the magnetic stiffness of a Cr spacer and the structure of interfaces on the noncollinear exchange coupling in Fe/Cr/Fe trilayers.

PACS: 75.70.-i

Received: 09.10.2003

 English version: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters, 2003, 78:10, 627–630

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