Abstract
We study antiferromagnetic coupling and interface diffusion in Fe/Si/MgO/Fe structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The Fe/Si/Fe samples with a 1.2-nm-thick Si spacer demonstrate antiferromagnetic coupling J 1 ∼- 1:5 mJ/m 2 and prevailing interdiffusion at the top Si/Fe interface, as revealed by conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy. For combined Si/MgO spacers with 0.9-nm-thick Si, interdiffusion continuously reduces upon changing the MgO thickness from 0.3 to 0.5nm accompanied by a decrease of antiferromagnetic coupling from |J 1| ∼ 1 mJ/m2 to |J 1| ∼ 0:002mJ/m 2. We emphasize that monolayer-scaled engineering of insulating spacers is a promising tool for the precise control of antiferromagnetic coupling and interface diffusion.
Originalsprache | Englisch |
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Aufsatznummer | 033003 |
Fachzeitschrift | Applied Physics Express |
Jahrgang | 5 |
Ausgabenummer | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publikationsstatus | Veröffentlicht - März 2012 |
Extern publiziert | Ja |