Magnetic interactions and interface properties in Co/Fe multilayers

Co/Fe multilayers with different layer thickness formed by electron beam evaporation in ultrahigh vacuum have been investigated by grazing incidence x-ray reflectivity (GIXRR) and alternating gradient force magnetometry. The interface thicknesses are lower than GIXRR uncertainty (similar to1 nm), favoring a strong magnetic exchange interaction between the layers responsible for their single phase magnetic behavior. The hysteresis loops were interpreted as the result of two different magnetization processes related to the presence of an out-of-plane component of the magnetization. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.