MAGNETIC, MAGNETOSTRICTIVE AND STRUCTURAL-PROPERTIES OF IRON COBALT SILVER MULTILAYERS

Magnetic and magnetostrictive measurements have been carried out on Fe Co/Ag multilayers using a dc magnetometer and the SAMR method, respect ively. The samples were deposited by rf magnetron sputtering onto 26 m um polyimide substrates, half of each multilayer being deposited on ea ch side. The Ag thickness was maintained at 2 nm while t(FeCo) was var ied between 2 and t2 nm. The coercivity of the multilayers was much re duced by the presence of Ag from that observed in a homogeneous FeCo f ilm. Magnetostriction values were also altered from those expected fro m bulk polycrystalline FeCo alloy. X-ray diffraction analysis indicate s that the FeCo layers form a bcc structure with no strong crystallogr aphic orientation. It is likely that the Ag layers are not continuous.