MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF SPUTTERED FE/AL MULTILAYERS

We have deposited multilayers of iron and aluminum on various substrates using magnetron sputtering with biased substrate. The structure of the multilayers was checked by X-ray diffraction in the theta/2-theta-mode. We have deduced from these X-ray experiments the multilayers period-LAMBDA and the deposited atomic layers spacings and orientations. Our samples are strongly textured Al(111)/Fe(110). Bulk magnetization measurements and Mossbauer spectroscopy on Fe-57 have been performed. The Mossbauer effect shows the coexistence of two different iron species: iron located at the iron-aluminum interface and normal bcc iron. The bulk magnetization experiments are consistent with the Mossbauer results. The direction of the magnetic moments is dominated by shape anisotropy. The value of the mean iron magnetic moments is determined at room temperature and at liquid helium. High field magnetoresistance measurements are correlated to these magnetic properties.