Influence of nonmagnetic layer (Ti, Zr, Pt) on magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Fe/NML bilayers and Fe/NML/Fe trilayers

Abstract

Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Fe/Ti, Zr, Pt bilayers and Fe/Ti, Zr, Pt/Fe trilayers were investigated. The strong influence of nonmagnetic layer (NML) on the properties of the examined samples was discovered. It was established that the saturation field of trilayers oscillates as a function of Ti, Zr, Pt thickness (t(NML)) and a period of these oscillations depends on Fe-film thickness. These data were explained by the presence of exchange coupling between Fe-layers and its oscillatory behavior with changing t(NML). The spectral dependencies of transverse Kerr effect (TKE) for the studied samples were measured in the photon energy range from 1.6 to 4.5 eV. The strong Pt layer influence on TKE spectra of the examined samples was discovered. This was explained by an exchange-induced polarization of Pt. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.