Polarized neutron reflectivity studies of magnetic oxidic Fe3O4/NiO and Fe3O4/CoO multilayers

Abstract

The magnetic properties of [1 0 0] oriented Fe3O4/NiO and Fe3O4/CoO multilayers, MBE-grown on MgO(0 0 1) substrates, have been studied by polarized neutron reflectometry. In both samples, the Fe3O4 layer exhibits a depth-dependent magnetic profile characterized by a reduction in the magnetization near the interfaces. The possible origins of this behaviour, such as domain wall formation in the ferrimagnetic layer and deviations in stoichiometry, are discussed