ENHANCED SATURATION MAGNETIZATION, ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURE, AND COMPOSITIONAL SEGREGATION IN EPITAXIALLY GROWN CO-CR THIN-FILMS

We have used the recently established linear correlation between the t otal intensities of the L(3,2) ''white lines'' in electron energy-loss spectroscopy and the number of unoccupied 3d states to probe the loca l electronic structure in epitaxially grown Co-Cr thin films. The sign ificant enhancement of saturation magnetization measured for these epi taxial films, when compared to homogenized bulk alloys, has been corre lated directly to the unoccupied 3d states to the Co atoms in these ma terials. These measurements are the first direct electronic structure evidence that may support models associating the enhancement of satura tion magnetization with intragranular segregation in Co-Cr thin films. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.