Magnetism and microstructure of compositionally modulated disordered Fe/Ta films

Results are presented on compositionally modulated disordered magnetic films of the form (XÅFe/YÅTa), as a function of the modulation wavelength λ≡X+Y. Magnetization, ac susceptibility, torque magnetometry, x-ray diffraction, and Mössbauer measurements are used to probe magnetic transitions and microstructure. For X and Y values less than about 12 Å the structure is amorphous within the layers and compositionally modulated in the direction perpendicular to the film. Films with ultrathin individual layers (1–3 atomic diameters) exhibit perpendicular anisotropy while the thicker ones have in-plane magnetization. Spin-glass and ferromagnetic transitions are observed and are associated with specific regions of the multilayered films.