OPTICAL SWITCHES OF GADOLINIUM-MAGNESIUM MULTILAYERS

It is shown that Pd-coated multilayers built from alternating Gd and M g layers go through an optical transition by variation of the hydrogen concentration. The multilayer structure is preserved during switching . The optical properties of these stacks are comparable to those of th e Pd-coated GdMg alloys. By selecting appropriate multilayer periods, faster switches can be built when compared to alloys with a comparable Mg content. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)04 539-2].