DEPOSITION-TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF TEXTURE AND MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF SPUTTERED NI FE MULTILAYERS/

We present the effect of deposition temperature (T-s) on the structura l and magnetic properties of sputtered Ni/Fe multilayers. As T-s incre ases above room temperature, a systematic change in texture from(lll) to (200) and an increase in grain size are observed. Superlattice modu lations are clearly visible in low-angle x-ray reflectivity measuremen ts for all the multilayers deposited up to 250 degrees C. However, sup erlattice peaks intensities decrease with increasing T-s indicating en hanced mixing of Ni and Fe across interfaces. Nonmonotonic variations in electrical resistivity (rho(s)) and coercivity (H-c) with T-s are s een and explained in terms of the interplay between the increase in gr ain size and alloying at the interfaces. The total anisotropic magneto resistance (AMR) as well as its field sensitivity increase with T-s. ( C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.