Structural influence on the magnetic and electronic properties of annealed Fe/Al multilayers.

ABSTRACT

Temperature dependent magnetic and electronic properties of electron beam evaporated Fe/Al multilayer samples (MLS) with an average composition of Fe0.70A1(0.30) (MLS-A) and Fe0.50Al0.50 (MLS-B) have been investigated. A ferromagnetic behaviour in MLS-A and nonmagnetic behaviour in MLS-B is obtained after annealing the multilayers at 400 degrees C. The different magnetic behaviours can be interpreted in terms of constant increase of Fe-3d and Al-3sp hybridization accompanied by an increased de-localization of the d-electrons participating in the strong bonding of Fe with Al leading to formation of different Fe-Al phases (Fe3Al in MLS-A) and (FeAl in MLS-B) as suggested from valence band photoemission and X-ray diffraction measurements.