Polarization analysis of neutron reflectometry on non-collinear magnetic media: polarized neutron reflectometry experiments on a thin cobalt film

In this work we present a full data analysis of polarized neutron reflectom etry experiments on a thin magnetic film. A magnetic field was applied perp endicular to the layer magnetization, resulting in non spin-flip and spin-R ip reflectivities. For moderate external fields, the gain or loss of Zeeman energy for spin-flipped neutrons results in off-specular reflected spin-fl ipped beams. The theoretical model used to explain all data simultaneously consists of a bulk cobalt layer, together with interfacial layers with low magnetization values. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.