Heterogeneous bilayer films NiFe (Fe)-Dy: magnetic circular dichroism and Dy spin ordering

Abstract Results of the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) investigations in the 3d transition metal-Dy bi-layer films are presented. It is shown that even at room temperature the Dy layer makes a contribution to MCD of the bi-layer film, which corresponds to the MCD value in the single-layer Dy film measured below T C =85 K . According to the AES data there is no sharp interface between 3d and Dy layers in these films. Some amount of Ni and Fe atoms is dispersed in the Dy layer and some amount of Dy atoms is dispersed in the 3d layer. The comparison of the MCD and AES data allows one to suppose the Dy layer in the bi-layer films to be magnetically ordered at room temperature under the influence of the 3d-layer spin system. The influence spreads to long distances inside Dy layer through the 3d-ions dispersed in it.