Proximity effect of vanadium on spin-density-wave magnetism in Cr films

TL;DR

This study investigates how vanadium influences the spin-density wave properties in chromium films, revealing unexpectedly strong and long-range effects at the interface that alter magnetic characteristics.

Contribution

It provides new experimental evidence of long-range proximity effects of vanadium on SDW in chromium, challenging existing theoretical predictions.

Findings

Vanadium/Cr interface significantly affects SDW polarization and period.

Long-range proximity effects extend into thick Cr films.

The observed effects are stronger than theoretical predictions.

Abstract

The spin-density wave (SDW) state in thin chromium films is well known to be strongly affected by proximity effects from neighboring layers. To date the main attention has been given to effects arising from exchange interactions at interfaces. In the present work we report on combined neutron and synchrotron scattering studies of proximity effects in Cr/V films where the boundary condition is due to the hybridization of Cr with paramagnetic V at the interface. We find that the V/Cr interface has a strong and long-range effect on the polarization, period, and the N\'{e}el temperature of the SDW in rather thick Cr films. This unusually strong effect is unexpected and not predicted by theory.