Magnetization and magnetostriction process in spring-magnet TbFeCo/Fe multilayers with variable TbFeCo thickness

Different natures of the magnetization reversal are studied by means of magnetization and magnetostriction measurements for magnetostrictive "spring-magnet'' multilayers of TbFeCo/Fe with a. fixed Fe layer thickness of 10 nm and variable TbFeCo layer thickness of 12, 16 and 20 nm. In such multilayered systems, magnetization reversal occurs at different coercive fields for each layer related to formation of the domain wall at interfaces. The results show that at low temperatures, transition from the ferromagnetic saturation state (with domain walls) to the ferrimagnetic transient saturation state (without domain walls) takes place by the reversal of the magnetic moments in the high-magnetization Fe layers. This process is governed by large magnetic anisotropy of the TbFeCo layer. Increasing temperature, this anisotropy decreases and transition results from the reversal of magnetic moments in the small magnetization TbFeCo layers. Formation of the domain wall at interfaces is clearly evidenced by the negative contribution to the parallel magnetostriction. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.