Enhanced Interlayer Exchange Coupling
Andrew Hoff (Physics)
Enhanced interlayer exchange coupling in Co/Fe/MgO/Fe(001)
We investigate the bilinear and biquadratic interlayer exchange coupling in Co/Fe/MgO/Fe(001). Samples are grown through molecular beam epitaxy and the interlayer exchange coupling is measured through magneto-optic Kerr effect along wedge samples. By varying the location of Fe impurities between the interface and middle of the MgO spacer, we find that the couplings are enhanced and are dependent on the location of the impurities. We found that the interfacial impurities created a larger impact across all thickness on the bilinear coupling than no impurities or impurities in the middle of the MgO. The biquadratic coupling didn’t have a clear trend.