Magnetic anisotropy and interlayer exchange coupling of evaporated Au/Co multilayers

The magnetic properties of Au/Co multilayers, prepared by the e-beam evaporation method, have been systematically studied by magnetic measurements and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). In FMR spectra with the static magnetic field parallel to the film plane, a main mode and a higher-field mode have been identified, and understood as a result of the difference of outermost Co layers from internal Co layers. The interface-induced anisotropy has been revealed by both magnetic measurements and FMR spectra. Furthermore, the strong dependence of the magnetic properties, including the ratio of remanence to saturation magnetization and coercivity which characterize hysteresis loops, on the thicknesses of Au layers has been observed and is attributed to the effect of interlayer exchange coupling.