MAGNETIC-FIELD-INDUCED SPIN REORIENTATION IN GADOLINIUM SURFACE-LAYEROF GD FE MULTILAYERS/

Magnetization processes in thin Gd/Fe multilayer films have been studi ed by means of the longitudinal magnetooptical Kerr effect and magneti zation measurements. Comparison between magneto-optical and magnetic m easurements allows one to conclude that a field-induced surface spin r eorientation occurs in the studied films for a magnetic field applied in the film plane. The experimental results can be satisfactorily inte rpreted in the framework of the developed theoretical model. This mode l predicts a formation of a noncollinear magnetic structure within the gadolinium surface layer during the process of the field-induced spin reorientation phase transition. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.