MAGNETIC, MAGNETOSTRICTIVE AND STRUCTURAL-PROPERTIES OF IRON COBALT SILVER MULTILAYERS

Magnetic and magnetostrictive measurements have been carried out on FeCo/Ag multilayers using a dc magnetometer and the SAMR method, respectively. The samples were deposited by rf magnetron sputtering onto 26 mum polyimide substrates, half of each multilayer being deposited on each side. The Ag thickness was maintained at 2 nm while t(FeCo) was varied between 2 and t2 nm. The coercivity of the multilayers was much reduced by the presence of Ag from that observed in a homogeneous FeCo film. Magnetostriction values were also altered from those expected from bulk polycrystalline FeCo alloy. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the FeCo layers form a bcc structure with no strong crystallographic orientation. It is likely that the Ag layers are not continuous.