Magnetic anisotropy in multilayers

Magnetic anisotropy between in-plane and out of plane magnetic alignments i s studied in a variety of multilayer systems using Mossbauer spectrosopy to observe the (Fe) magnetic orientation. The surface anisotropy in Fe/Au (1 1 1) multilayers is measured as K-s = 0.9 x 10(-3) Jm (-2). In Fe/Ni multil ayers the dependence of magnetic orientation on external field applied norm al to the layers enables volume and interface anisotropies K-v = (-5 +/- 1) x 10(4) Jm(-3) and K-s = (-0.6 +/- 0.4)x 10(-3) Jm(-2) to be evaluated. In similar applied field experiments coherent rotation of the magnetic Fe and NiFe layers in Fe/Cu/NiFe/Cu multilayers was observed for intervening Cu l ayer thickness x = 5 Angstrom but independent rotation for x = 50 Angstrom. Out of plane magnetic components are observed for DyFe2, YFe2 thin films a nd DyFe2/YFe2 multilayers. In fields of up to 0.25 T applied inplane only t he moments of the YFe2 film showed significant rotation.