Interface alloying at Fe/Cr interfaces and its role in exchange coupling, angular resolved Auger electron, magneto-optic Kerr effect, and Brillouin light scattering studies (invited)

Angular resolved Auger electron studies were carried out for Fe whisker/Cr(001) interfaces which were prepared at 100, 180, 246, and 296 °C. The Cr atoms penetrate progressively into the second (counting from the surface) atomic layer at 100, 180, and 246 °C. At 296 °C the Cr atoms enter the third atomic layer. No noticeable fraction of the Cr atoms was found in the fourth atomic layer. The exchange coupling was studied in Fe whisker/Cr/Fe(001) …