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Reorientation of Spin Density Waves in Cr(001) Films induced by Fe(001) Cap Layers

P. Bödeker, A. Hucht, A. Schreyer, J. Borchers, F. Güthoff, H. Zabel

cond-mat.mtrl-sciarXiv:cond-mat/9807212

Abstract

Proximity effects of 20 Åthin Fe layers on the spin density waves (SDWs) in epitaxial Cr(001) films are revealed by neutron scattering. Unlike in bulk Cr we observe a SDW with its wave vector Q pointing along only one 100 direction which depends dramatically on the film thickness tCr. For tCr < 250 Åthe SDW propagates out-of-plane with the spins in the film plane. For tCr > 1000 Åthe SDW propagates in the film plane with the spins out-of-plane perpendicular to the in-plane Fe moments. This reorientation transition is explained by frustration effects in the antiferromagnetic interaction between Fe and Cr across the Fe/Cr interface due to steps at the interface.

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