EFFECT OF FE CAP LAYERS ON THE SPIN-DENSITY WAVES IN EPITAXIAL CR(001) FILMS

We have investigated proximity effects of Fe layers on the spin densit y waves (SDW) and the concomitant charge density waves or strain waves in thin epitaxial Cr[001] films using synchrotron and neutron scatter ing. Unlike in bulk Cr we observe a strong anisotropic occupation of t he three possible SDWs with their wave vectors Q pointing along the {0 01} directions. In a pure 3000 Angstrom thick Cr[001] film, the SDW ex hibits an almost complete out-of-plane orientation, whereas in a Cr fi lm of the same thickness capped by a 20 Angstrom Fe layer the SDW beco mes completely reoriented with Q now propagating in the plane. This SD W is preserved over the entire temperature range from 10 K up to the N eel temperature of about 311 K. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics .