OPTICAL STUDIES OF CU-NI, PD-NI AND CO-PT MULTILAYERS BY CONVENTIONALAND SYNCHROTRON-RADIATION ELLIPSOMETRY

In this work we perform a review of the ellipsometric investigation of the optical properties of Cu-Ni, Pd-Ni and Co-Pt compositionally modu lated multilayers (CMMs). The occurrence of optical anisotropy and its possible origins are discussed. The observed interband transitions ar e analysed with respect to the modulation period and the CMM stoichiom etry and a non-monotonic energy shift is noted. Annealing and in situ ellipsometric studies reveal information about the origin of the obser ved transitions and their possible association with the CMM or the cor responding alloy.