Oscillations of magnetic parameters in Fe/Mo superlattices

Two series of Fe/Mo magnetic superlattices with constant Fe and variable Mo layers' thickness and vice versa were synthesized by cathode sputtering in discharge with oscillating electrons and investigation of atomic structure, magnetic properties and Mossbauer effect were performed. Strong oscillations of the magnetic parameters versus the thickness of the Mo layers with a period of similar to 8 Angstrom were revealed. Anomalous high values of spontaneous magnetization were observed for a thickness of the Mo layers of 10 and 18 Angstrom and an assumption of high orbital moments for certain local states of Fe ions was formulated. The Mossbauer measurements revealed the existence of four non-equivalent local states of the Fe ions with different local atomic environment. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.