X-ray analysis of compositional modulation in Co/Pt multilayer films for magneto-optic recording

Abstract

The compositional modulation in Co/Pt multilayer films was studied through the use of asymmetric Bragg diffraction. The angle between the scattering vector and the surface normal was varied in order to interrogate different components of the in-plane strain. In-plane strain values and unstrained lattice parameters, which reveal the intermixing of the two metals, were extracted from these measurements. The films displayed strains which varied with bilayer period and showed substantial intermixing at the smaller bilayer periods. These small bilayer period films showed perpendicular anisotropy as measured by Kerr rotation.