STRUCTURAL AND MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF FE RH(001) SPUTTER-DEPOSITED MULTILAYERS/

We present details of the crystal structure and magnetic behavior of F e/Rh (001) sputter deposited multilayer thin films. We find that the f ilms undergo a structural phase transformation from a body-centered-te tragonal (bct) to a face-centered-tetragonal (fct) lattice which is co ncomitant with a magnetic transformation from a ferromagnetic to a non ferromagnetic state. We identify the Rh spacer thickness where both be t and fct phases first coexist as the critical thickness (t(crit)). In the region prior to the critical thickness, both Fe and Rh are ferrom agnetic with Rh moments of at least 1/mu(B) and Fe moments enhanced as much as 30% relative to their bulk value. In the postcritical region, we find the films to be nonferromagnetic. The experimental results ar e compared with theoretical calculations on similar structures. (C) 19 98 American Vacuum Society. [S0734-2101(98)01703-5].