Layer Resolved Magnetization Correlations in Multilayers

Abstract

While magnetic multilayers can be regarded as systems that are artificially structured along one dimension, laterally patterned magnetic structures are systems that are structured, in addition, along a second (nanostripes) or third (nanodots) dimension. Fundamentally, novel properties analogous to the interlayer exchange coupling and the giant magnetoresistance effect in magnetic multilayers can be expected if the size of the structures become comparable to or smaller than certain characteristic length scales, such as the spin diffusion length, carrier mean free path, magnetic domain wall width, etc. [1]. Typically, those length scales lie in the several-to-hundreds nm range.

Acknowledgments

Many colleagues were involved in the work described in this review article; see the original publications. Special thanks to Boris Toperverg, who was essential to develop the DWBA analysis program, Nicole Ziegenhagen for the experiments on the stripe structures, and Daniel Bürgler for stimulating discussions on exchange bias.

Notes

1. For a review, see, for example, J. I. Martin et al.,JMMM 256, 449 (2003)

5. Paul et al., to be published in PRB (2004)

11. N. Ziegenhagen, Diplomarbeit, RWTH Aachen (2002)