Temperature-Induced Reversal of Magnetic Interlayer Exchange Coupling

K. M. Döbrich, M. Wietstruk, J. E. Prieto, F. Heigl, O. Krupin, K. Starke, and G. Kaindl
Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 227203 – Published 6 June 2008

Abstract

For epitaxial trilayers of the magnetic rare-earth metals Gd and Tb, exchange coupled through a nonmagnetic Y spacer layer, element-specific hysteresis loops were recorded by the x-ray magneto-optical Kerr effect at the rare-earth M5 thresholds. This allowed us to quantitatively determine the strength of interlayer exchange coupling (IEC). In addition to the expected oscillatory behavior as a function of spacer-layer thickness dY, a temperature-induced sign reversal of IEC was observed for constant dY, arising from magnetization-dependent electron reflectivities at the magnetic interfaces.

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  • Received 18 December 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.227203

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

K. M. Döbrich*, M. Wietstruk, J. E. Prieto, F. Heigl, O. Krupin, K. Starke§, and G. Kaindl

  • Institut für Experimentalphysik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany

  • *Present address: Max-Born-Institut, D-12489 Berlin.
  • Present address: BESSY GmbH, D-12489 Berlin.
  • Present address: Centro de Microanálisis de Materiales, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid.
  • §Deceased.

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Vol. 100, Iss. 22 — 6 June 2008

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