Static and dynamic magnetic properties of Fe-Cr-layered structures with antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange

Abstract

Thin films of Fe when separated by approximately 8 Å of Cr couple antiferromagnetically. Evidence for this comes from spin-wave-mode spectra as measured by means of light scattering and hysteresis curves, here obtained by means of the magneto-optic Kerr effect. Based on new and more-detailed data we would like to discuss the behavior of a particular spin-wave mode due to the spin canting induced by the antiferromagnetic coupling. It is related to a Goldstone mode. The experiments also show that antiferromagnetic coupling occurs not only for films grown along [100] but also for films grown along [110]. We discuss the implications of this observation.