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Published on: October 5, 2013
Temperature-induced reversal of magnetic interlayer exchange coupling
K M Döbrich1, M Wietstruk, J E Prieto
1Institut für Experimentalphysik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|July 23, 2008
Summary
Researchers studied magnetic rare-earth trilayers using X-ray magneto-optical Kerr effect. They observed a temperature-induced sign reversal in interlayer exchange coupling (IEC), crucial for understanding magnetic interactions.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Magnetism
Background:
- Epitaxial trilayers of magnetic rare-earth metals Gd and Tb are essential for studying magnetic coupling phenomena.
- Understanding interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) is key to developing advanced magnetic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively determine the strength of interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) in Gd/Y/Tb trilayers.
- To investigate the influence of spacer layer thickness and temperature on IEC.
- To explore the origin of temperature-induced sign reversal in IEC.
Main Methods:
- Element-specific hysteresis loops were recorded using the x-ray magneto-optical Kerr effect (XMOKE) at rare-earth M5 absorption edges.
- The XMOKE technique allowed for precise measurements of magnetic properties specific to each rare-earth element.
- Systematic variation of the nonmagnetic Y spacer layer thickness (dY) was performed.
Main Results:
- The interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) exhibited oscillatory behavior as a function of Y spacer layer thickness (dY).
- A significant temperature-induced sign reversal of IEC was observed for a constant dY.
- Magnetization-dependent electron reflectivities at the magnetic interfaces were identified as the cause of the sign reversal.
Conclusions:
- The study quantitatively determined IEC strength in Gd/Y/Tb trilayers.
- The findings reveal a novel temperature-induced sign reversal mechanism in IEC.
- This research provides critical insights into interfacial magnetic coupling for rare-earth multilayers.
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