Neutron Scattering on Magnetic Thin Films: Pushing the Limits

Neutron scattering has been the scattering technique of choice for the analysis of magnetic structures and their dynamics for many decades. The advent of magnetic thin film systems has posed new challenges since such samples have inherently small scattering volumes. By way of example, recent progress in the application of neutron scattering for the study of both magnetic structure and dynamics in magnetic thin film systems will be presented. First, a combined high angle neutron scattering and polarized neutron reflectivity investigation of the magnetic order of Cr and its influence on the exchange coupling between the Fe layers in Fe/Cr superlattices is discussed. It is shown, that in the whole thickness range up to 3000 angstroms the magnetic structure is governed by frustration effects at the Fe/Cr interfaces. Second, it is demonstrated that it is now possible to investigate the dynamic properties of magnetic thin films with neutron scattering. Unlike e.g. Brillouin light scattering, inelastic neutron scattering provides access to large portions of the Brillouin zone. First results on spin wave excitations in a Dy/Y superlattice are presented.