Magnetic-Anisotropy And Interlayer Exchange Coupling In The Sputtered Co/Ag Multilayers

The in-plane uniaxial anisotropy and perpendicular anisotropy of sputtered Co/Ag(111) multilayers have been investigated by magnetic measurements and the in-plane ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique. The data-fitting analysis for the FMR experimental results about the angular dependence of the resonance field shows that the in-plane anisotropy cannot be fully described by only using the first-order term, and the second-order term must be included. Furthermore, the interface-induced anisotropy has been obtained by FMR. Both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic couplings have been revealed by hysteresis loop measurement. Specifically, a spin-flip phase transition has been observed in. the sputtered Co/Ag(111) multilayers, which is attributed to the effects of the AF-coupling and in-plane uniaxial anisotropy. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.