THE MACROSCOPIC FERRI-FERROMAGNETIC TRANSITION IN AMORPHOUS Y-CO GD-CO BILAYERS/

We developed a model to completely explain the domain wall existing at the interface of an amorphous Y-Co/Gd-Co bilayer. Samples produced by sputtering, were characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrome try and transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect. From the experimental parameters we determined the thickness (delta) and relative position ( Delta) of the domain wall, and also the exchange constant (A) for the Co-Co atom pair. The room temperature value of A was found to be (4.8 +/- 1.4) x 10(-8) erg/cm. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.