Magnetic order in Co/Cu multilayers studied by polarized soft X-rays and neutrons

The magnetic coupling in Co/Cu multilayers with individual layer thicknesses tuned to the 2nd maximum of the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) is investigated by soft X-ray magnetic scattering. A series of half-integer order magnetic peaks appears in the specularly scattered intensity especially with the higher orders being strongly sensitive to magnetic effects. Diffuse magnetic scattering, performed with polarized neutrons, indicates long-range magnetic correlation in the remanent multilayer state and a corresponding magnetic domain structure sensitive to the magnetic field applied before.