MAGNETIC AND MAGNETOTRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF NI FE MULTILAYERS/

We present a study of sputtered Ni/Fe multilayers in order to examine the effect of interfacial mixing and interdiffusion on the magnetic ac id transport properties. The multilayer structure has been examined by low-angle x-ray reflectivity, which reveals interface mixing of about two monolayers. The magnetization measurements show differences in th e anisotropy of multilayers for which the thickness ratio of nickel to iron is changed from 1:1 to 3:1. With the. 1:1 composition, multilaye rs show high permeability with a longitudinal easy axis, while samples with 3:1 composition show lower permeability and a rotated easy axis. By fitting the resistivity and magnetoresistance thickness variation with a semiclassical model, we have determined an interface contributi on to the resistivity and a possible contribution to the magnetoresist ance. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.