Magnetic and structural characterization of Dy-Y superlattices

Single-crystal superlattices of dysprosium and yttrium with bilayer thickness ranging from 70 to 105 Å have been grown using molecular-beam epitaxy techniques. Detailed x-ray analysis of these samples shows them to be coherent structures with abrupt interfaces between the alternating layers. These superlattices differ magnetically from pure Dy with properties that show distinct dependence on the thickness of the intervening Y.