No Arabic abstract
We present the results of the characterization of Mg/Co periodic multilayers and their thermal stability for the EUV range. The annealing study is performed up to a temperature of 400degree C. Images obtained by scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy clearly show the good quality of the multilayer structure. The measurements of the EUV reflectivity around 25 nm (~49 eV) indicate that the reflectivity decreases when the annealing temperature increases above 300degreeC. X-ray emission spectroscopy is performed to determine the chemical state of the Mg atoms within the Mg/Co multilayer. Nuclear magnetic resonance used to determine the chemical state of the Co atoms and scanning electron microscopy images of cross sections of the Mg/Co multilayers reveal changes in the morphology of the stack from an annealing temperature of 305degreee;C. This explains the observed reflectivity loss.
We study the introduction of a third material, namely Zr, within a nanometric periodic Mg/Co structure designed to work as optical component in the extreme UV (EUV) spectral range. Mg/Co, Mg/Zr/Co, Mg/Co/Zr and Mg/Zr/Co/Zr multilayers are designed, then characterized in terms of structural quality and optical performances through X-ray and EUV reflectometry measurements respectively. For the Mg/Co/Zr structure, the reflectance value is equal to 50% at 25.1 nm and 45deg of grazing incidence and reaches 51.3% upon annealing at 200deg C. Measured EUV reflectivity values of tri-layered systems are discussed in terms of material order within a period and compared to the predictions of the theoretical model of Larruquert. Possible applications are pointed out.
The resonant magnetic reflectivity of Co/Mg multilayers around the Co L2,3 absorption edge is simulated then measured on a specifically designed sample. The dichroic signal is obtained when making the difference between the two reflectivities measured with the magnetic field applied in two opposite directions parallel to the sample surface. The simulations show that the existence of magnetic dead layers at the interfaces between the Co and Mg layers leads to an important increase of the dichroic signal measured in the vicinity of the third Bragg peak that otherwise should be negligible. The measurements are in agreement with the model introducing 0.25 nm thick dead layers. This is attributed to the Co atoms in contact with the Mg layers and thus we conclude that the Co-Mg interfaces are abrupt from the magnetic point of view.
The magnetic properties of (111)-oriented Rh/Co/Pt and Pd/Co/Pt multilayers are investigated by first-principles calculations. We focus on the interlayer exchange coupling, and identify thicknesses and composition where a typical ferromagnet or a synthetic antiferromagnet across the spacer layer is formed. All systems under investigation show a collinear magnetic intralayer order, but the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) is rather strong for Pd-based systems, so that single magnetic skyrmions can be expected. In general, we find a strong sensitivity of the magnetic parameters (especially the DMI) in Rh-based systems, but Pd-based multilayers are less sensitive to structural details.
All-Heusler multilayer structures have been investigated by means of high kinetic x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, aiming to address the amount of disorder and interface diffusion induced by annealing of the multilayer structure. The studied multilayers consist of ferromagnetic Co$_2$MnGe and non-magnetic Rh$_2$CuSn layers with varying thicknesses. We find that diffusion begins already at comparably low temperatures between 200 $^{circ}$C and 250 $^{circ}$C, where Mn appears to be most prone to diffusion. We also find evidence for a 4 {AA} thick magnetically dead layer that, together with the identified interlayer diffusion, are likely reasons for the small magnetoresistance found for current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magneto-resistance devices based on this all-Heusler system.
A set of Mo/Si periodic multilayers is studied by non destructive analysis methods. The thickness of the Si layers is 5 nm while the thickness of the Mo layers changes from one multilayer to another, from 2 to 4 nm. This enables us to probe the effect of the transition between the amorphous to crystalline state of the Mo layers near the interfaces with Si on the optical performances of the multilayers. This transition results in the variation of the refractive index (density variation) of the Mo layers, as observed by x-ray reflectivity (XRR) at a wavelength of 0.154 nm. Combining x-ray emission spectroscopy and XRR, the parameters (composition, thickness and roughness) of the interfacial layers formed by the interaction between the Mo and Si layers are determined. However, these parameters do not evolve significantly as a function of the Mo thickness. It is observed by diffuse scattering at 1.33 nm that the lateral correlation length of the roughness strongly decreases when the Mo thickness goes from 2 to 3 nm. This is due to the development of Mo crystallites parallel to the multilayer surface.