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Single dusting layers of size-selected Co nanoclusters (NCs) of sizes ranging from 1.5–5.5 nm have been deposited by a gas-phase aggregation method in ultrahigh vacuum, and embedded within a NiFe matrix. Magnetic hysteresis loops have been obtained using soft x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, which shows that these Co NCs embedded in NiFe exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism with identical coercivity to the surrounding NiFe film. The strong local exchange field at the interface between NiFe and Co NCs, combined with the magnetic anisotropy of the NiFe film, allows stabilization of NC ferromagnetism which persists to room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the reversal of the bulk and interfacial magnetizations of the free layer of a spin valve using soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering. By dusting the interface of the NiFe free layer with a few angströms of Co, we were able to distinguish between the interfacial and bulk magnetisms by tuning the x-ray photon energy. We measured hysteresis loops of reflected x-ray intensity at selected points in reciprocal space. We find no difference in the switching fields, showing that in transition metal ferromagnets, the exchange interactions are sufficiently strong to prevent a separate interfacial coercivity from arising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present evidence from soft x-ray resonant magnetic scattering measurements at the Mn L[sub 3] edge for the existence of a small magnetic moment on the antiferromagnetic IrMn pinning layer in a NiFe/Cu/Co/IrMn spin valve structure. The variation of the signal in an applied magnetic field shows that the moment lies antiparallel to the Co moment. Changes in the Mn L[sub 3] edge signal as the Co moment is rotated into the hard direction are rapid and do not appear to be associated with thermal reordering of the antiferromagnetic domain structure. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]