Abstract
Polarized neutron reflectivity (PNR) and magnetometry studies have been performed on the metal-insulator multilayer [Co80 Fe20 (1.6 nm) Al2 O3 (3 nm)] 9 which exhibits dominant dipolar coupling between the ferromagnetic layers. Our PNR measurements at the coercive field reveal a novel and unexpected magnetization state of the sample, exhibiting an oscillating magnetization depth profile from CoFe layer to CoFe layer with a period of five bilayers along the multilayer stack. With the help of micromagnetic simulations we demonstrate that competition between long- and short-ranged dipolar interactions apparently gives rise to this unprecedented phenomenon.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 054426 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 74 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |