Deposition-temperature dependence of texture and magnetic properties of sputtered Ni/Fe multilayers

We present the effect of deposition temperature (T-s) on the structural and magnetic properties of sputtered Ni/Fe multilayers. As T-s increases above room temperature, a systematic change in texture from(lll) to (200) and an increase in grain size are observed. Superlattice modulations are clearly visible in low-angle x-ray reflectivity measurements for all the multilayers deposited up to 250 degrees C. However, superlattice peaks intensities decrease with increasing T-s indicating enhanced mixing of Ni and Fe across interfaces. Nonmonotonic variations in electrical resistivity (rho(s)) and coercivity (H-c) with T-s are seen and explained in terms of the interplay between the increase in grain size and alloying at the interfaces. The total anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) as well as its field sensitivity increase with T-s. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.