Polarization of Pd atoms in Ni/Pd magnetic multilayers

Abstract

Ni/Pd multilayered films with various Ni and Pd layer thicknesses were prepared by electron gun evaporation. These films were all polycrystals with (111) preferential orientation. Also, both experimental analysis and computer simulation results indicated the existence of a diffusion layer at the Ni-Pd interfaces. The nominal magnetic moment per Ni atom measured for these multilayered films varied with change in the Ni layer thickness. For a thinner Ni layer, the magnetic moment was smaller than that of bulk Ni, while it was larger for the thicker Ni layer. This variation is attributed to the opposite effects of two factors, namely the favourable effect of Pd atom polarization versus the magnetic degradation mainly due to the decrease in the Curie temperature with decreasing Ni layer thickness. The effect of Pd atoms polarized by their neighbouring Ni atoms was also verified by the results of thermal annealing the multilayers.