Interface magnetometry in a (Fe6Å/Ni24Å)10 multilayer

The interplay between atomic geometry and magnetic properties of Fe atoms at the Fe–Ni(1 1 1) interface was studied. To this end dichroic optical absorption and reflectivity (both in energy and θ–2θ angular scan mode) were carried out in the L2,3 edge region of Fe in (Fe6 Å/Ni24 Å(1 1 1))10 multilayer while the atomic geometry of the Fe site at the interface was studied for 1 atomic layer of Fe on Ni(1 1 1) by photo-electron diffraction (in angular scan mode and back-scattering regime). The Fe atom was found to be chemisorbed in an fcc hollow site and to stack pseudomorphically to Ni(1 1 1). Its magnetic moment was found to be in the range 2.9±0.9–1.93±0.6 μB. Possibility of surface anisotropy is discussed.