Structural evolution and magnetic behavior of Fe/V multilayers submitted to thermal annealing

We report a study on the structural and magnetic properties of iron-vanadiu m thin films grown in multilayer form and mixed by thermal treatment, This multilayer was annealed at temperatures between 610 degreesC and 670 degree sC for 60 min. The XRD result for the as-deposited multilayer shows a high- degree crystallinity, and suggests abrupt interface. After thermal treatmen t, the results from XRD show a phase transformation of the BCC-disordered s tructure (a phase) into a tetragonal structure (a phase). XAS structural re sults are consistent with the XRD observations. CEMS results show a magneti c moment reduction for temperatures above 610 degreesC. The magnetic measur ements suggest also a phase transformation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.