Magnetic quantum well states in ultrathin film and wedge structures

Author

Li, Dongqi ; Bader, S.D.

Author_Institution

Div. of Mater. Sci., Argonne Nat. Lab., IL, USA

Volume

32

Issue

5

fYear

1996

fDate

9/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

4556

Lastpage

4560

Abstract

Magnetic quantum-well (QW) states are probed with angle- and spin-resolved photoemission to address critical issues pertaining to the origin of the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) optimization and oscillatory coupling of magnetic multilayers. Two epitaxial systems are highlighted: Cu/Co(wedge)/Cu(100) and Cr/Fe(100)-whisker. The confinement of Cu sp-QW states by a Co barrier requires a characteristic Co thickness of 2.2±0.6 Å, which is consistent with the interfacial Co thickness reported to optimize the GMR of Permalloy-Cu structures. The controversial k-space origin of the 18-Å long period oscillation in Fe/Cr multilayers is identified by the vector that spans the d-derived “lens” feature of the Cr Fermi surface , based on the emergence of QW states with 17±2 Å periodicity in this region

Keywords

Fermi surface; chromium; cobalt; copper; giant magnetoresistance; iron; magnetic epitaxial layers; magnetic multilayers; photoelectron spectra; Co barrier; Co thickness; Cr Fermi surface; Cr-Fe; Cr/Fe(100)-whisker; Cu-Co-Cu; Cu/Co(wedge)/Cu(100); Fe/Cr multilayers; Permalloy-Cu structures; angle-resolved photoemission; controversial k-space origin; epitaxial systems; giant magnetoresistance optimization; interfacial Co thickness; magnetic multilayers; magnetic quantum well states; oscillatory coupling; spin-resolved photoemission; ultrathin film; wedge structures; Chromium; Couplings; Giant magnetoresistance; Iron; Magnetic confinement; Magnetic films; Magnetic multilayers; Nonhomogeneous media; Photoelectricity; Quantum wells;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.539079

Filename

539079