Spin reorientation transition in Fe/CeH 2 multilayers probed by soft X-ray resonant magnetic scattering

The magnetic domain configurations of Fe 3d spins in Fe/CeH2 multilayers were measured by soft X-ray resonant magnetic scattering. The interface region could be probed by setting up X-ray standing waves due to the multilayer periodicity. By resolving first- and second-order magnetic scattering contributions, we show that the latter probe directly the magneto-crystalline anisotropy which is dominated by the Fe interface layers causing a spin reorientation transition when the temperature is lowered.