Chemical intermixing at FeMn/Co interfaces

Elemental distributions of Fe, Mn, and Co in ultrathin FeMn/Co multilayers have been profiled by the x-ray anomalous scattering technique. Chemical intermixing is observed at the FeMn/Co interfaces with intermixing regions up to 14 Angstrom. The chemical compositions in the intermixing regions are found to vary gradually from FeMn to FeMnCo2 and from FeMnCo2 to Co., respectively, but not from FeMn to Co. This result suggests that a reaction may occur and FeMnCo2 appears at the interface during the deposition. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.