SPIN CONFIGURATIONS IN GD FE EPITAXIAL BILAYERS/

Epitaxial bilayers of Gd/Fe have been realised by depositing 60 Angstr om Gd (0 0 0 1) on 120 Angstrom Fe (1 1 0) and sandwiching them betwee n a buffer layer of W (1 1 0) and capping layer of Y (0 0 0 1). The gr owth process was studied in-situ by RHEED and Auger analysis. The spin configuration of the samples was studied by magnetometry and polarise d-neutron reflectivity with spin analysis. The Gd moment is found to b e enhanced with respect to the bulk. In an applied field of 300 Oe, th e Fe moments lie almost parallel to the field; the Gd moments are anti parallel at the interface and then they twist into a fanned state thro ugh the Gd thickness.