Microscopic Interdiffusion in Multilayer Structure

Recently, artificially modulated magnetic multilayer materials, for examples giant magnetoresistant magnetic head materials and magneto-optic recording materials in the wavelength of a blue laser beam, attract great attention in the electronics industry due to their unique properties derived from the modulated multilayer structure. Since the multilayer structure as well as amorphous structure, is non-equilibrium state in terms of free energy, an assessment of the thermal stability in the multilayer structure is crucially important both for basic research and applications. In this review paper, effective microscopic interdiffusion process in the two dimensional multilayer structure will be described in terms of steep concentration gradient effect, strain effect and magnetic transition effect.