Interface effects on the magnetic properties of exchange coupled Co/Fe multilayers studied by Brillouin light scattering

Exchange-coupled 5[Co-(x)/Fe-(3x)]/Co-(x) with x = 5, 10, 15 nm multilayers were grown by UHV electron-beam evaporation. The influence of the interfac e magnetic anisotropy and interlayer exchange interaction on the magnetic p roperties was studied by means of Brillouin light scattering from thermally excited spin waves. Both the Damon-Eshbach surface mode of the total multi layer and bulk standing modes are present in the BLS spectra. A careful stu dy of spin waves frequency dependence on the applied magnetic field allowed the determination of the magnetic parameters of the Co/Fe multilayers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.