SPIN-DENSITY-WAVE INSTABILITY FOR CHROMIUM IN FE CR(100) MULTILAYERS/

Using perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy on Fe/Cr epitaxially grown multilayers, we observed an in-plane magnetization for Fe layers (thickness between 1.5 and 38 nm), while Cr (thickness between 7.5 an d 40 nm) orders antiferromagnetically as a longitudinal (AF(2)) spin d ensity wave with the magnetization along the (100) direction normal to the layers, persisting well above the Neel temperature of bulk chromi um. The Cr layers lose the Cr bulk magnetism and become paramagnetic, down to 4.2 K, or even nonmagnetic for thickness below 6.0 nm.