The magnetic structure of platinum-cobalt multilayers

Abstract

The magnetization of platinum-cobalt multilayers has been investigated using a combination of vibrating sample magnetometry and polarized neutron reflectometry. The enhanced magnetization due to spin polarization of the platinum atoms effected by the neighbouring cobalt atoms is evaluated for films with cobalt layer thicknesses in the range 6-12 AA, the range over which there is a transition from perpendicular to in-plane anisotropy. We have observed increased moments above the bulk cobalt value for the set of films.