Profile of the U 5f magnetization in U/Fe multilayers

TL;DR

This study uses x-ray magnetic reflectivity to map the uranium 5f magnetic polarization in U/Fe multilayers, confirming that the induced magnetization is mainly at interfaces and decays inward, aligning with theoretical predictions.

Contribution

It extends x-ray magnetic scattering techniques to measure 5f actinide magnetization profiles in multilayers, providing experimental validation of theoretical models.

Findings

U magnetization is concentrated at interfaces

Magnetization decays rapidly from interfaces inward

Results agree with theoretical predictions

Abstract

Recent calculations, concerning the magnetism of uranium in the U/Fe multilayer system have described the spatial dependence of the 5f polarization that might be expected. We have used the x-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity technique to obtain the profile of the induced uranium magnetic moment for selected U/Fe multilayer samples. This study extends the use of x-ray magnetic scattering for induced moment systems to the 5f actinide metals. The spatial dependence of the U magnetization shows that the predominant fraction of the polarization is present at the interfacial boundaries, decaying rapidly towards the center of the uranium layer, in good agreement with predictions.