Experimental study on interlayer magnetic coupling in sputtered Al/Fe/Al/Gd magnetic multilayer films. I

Interlayer magnetic coupling (IMC) between Fe and Gd layers through Al spacer has been experimentally studied on [Al(R angstrom)/Gd(40 angstrom)/Al(R angstrom)/Fe(20 angstrom)]xN/Al(5 angstrom) magnetic multilayers, where R = 0, 5, 10, and 20 as nominal figures. Magnetization curves and the temperature dependence of magnetization are reported. Magnetic Compton-profile technique has been used to determine the amounts and the signs of spin magnetizations of Fe and Gd layers for R = 5 and 20. A line-shape analysis of the magnetic Compton profile on the multilayer of R = 5 has verified that the IMC is antiferromagnetic, and the negative small amount of magnetization of Gd layer exists even at room temperature under 1 kOe, despite the absence of ferromagnetic magnetization of a A1(5 angstrom)/Gd(40 angstrom) multilayer at room temperature. The antiferro magnetic IMC has been confirmed in the case of R = 0, 5 and 10, but the IMC is not observed in the case of R = 20.