Step-induced canting of magnetization in Fe/Ag superlattices

We have investigated the reorientation of the easy axis of magnetization in (001) Fe/Ag superlattices using vibrating sample magnetometry, Mossbauer s pectroscopy and nuclear resonance scattering of synchrotron radiation. Clea r evidence is found that the Fe-layer magnetization can be oriented conside rably out of the plane of the sample at room temperature, even for Fe-layer thicker than 6 ML at which the spin-reorientation transition usually occur s in Fe/Ag. The spin canting is attributed to frustration and a strong cont ribution of a step-induced anisotropy.