Spin polarization and exchange coupling of Cu and Mn atoms in paramagnetic CuMn diluted alloys induced by a Co layer

M. Abes, D. Atkinson, B. K. Tanner, T. R. Charlton, Sean Langridge, T. P. A. Hase, M. Ali, C. H. Marrows, B. J. Hickey, A. Neudert, R. J. Hicken, D. Arena, S. B. Wilkins, A. Mirone, and S. Lebègue
Phys. Rev. B 82, 184412 – Published 9 November 2010

Abstract

Using the surface, interface, and element specificity of x-ray resonant magnetic scattering in combination with x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, we have spatially resolved the magnetic spin polarization, and the associated interface proximity effect, in a Mn-based high-susceptibility material close to a ferromagnetic Co layer. We have measured the magnetic polarization of Mn and Cu3d electrons in paramagnetic CuMn alloy layers in [Co/Cu(x)/CuMn/Cu(x)]20 multilayer samples with varying copper layer thicknesses from x=0 to 25Å. The size of the Mn and CuL2,3 edge dichroism shows a decrease in the Mn-induced polarization for increasing copper thickness indicating the dominant interfacial nature of the Cu and Mn spin polarization. The Mn polarization is much higher than that of Cu. Evidently, the Mn moment is a useful probe of the local spin density. Mn atoms appear to be coupled antiferromagnetically with the Co layer below x=10Å and ferromagnetically coupled above. In contrast, the interfacial Cu atoms remain ferromagnetically aligned to the Co layer for all thicknesses studied.

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  • Received 12 May 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.184412

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. Abes*, D. Atkinson, and B. K. Tanner

  • Department of Physics, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom

T. R. Charlton and Sean Langridge

  • ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxon OX11 0QX, United Kingdom

T. P. A. Hase

  • Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

M. Ali, C. H. Marrows, and B. J. Hickey

  • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

A. Neudert and R. J. Hicken

  • School of Physics, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QL, United Kingdom

D. Arena

  • National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973-5000, USA

S. B. Wilkins

  • Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973-5000, USA

A. Mirone

  • European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, F-38043 Grenoble Cedex, France

S. Lebègue

  • Laboratoire de Cristallographie, Résonance Magnétique, et Modélisations, CRM2, UMR CNRS 7036, Institut Jean Barriol, Nancy Université, BP 239, Boulevard des Aiguillettes, 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

  • *Present address: Physics Department, University of Kiel, Germany; abes@physik.uni-kiel.de
  • http://www.isis.rl.ac.uk/
  • Present address: FZD Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Dresden, Germany.

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Issue

Vol. 82, Iss. 18 — 1 November 2010

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