Magnetic characterization of Er/Y superlattices

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Abstract
Molecular-beam epitaxy techniques have been used to prepare coherent, crystalline superlattices of erbium and yttrium. Magnetometer measurements indicate that the transition temperatures for the superlattices are significantly lower than those for bulk erbium. The first-order transition to a conical ferromagnetic state observed in Er is suppressed. The c-axis modulated phase is stable in c-axis fields up to 17 kOe, while the field dependence of the basal-plane moments differs little from bulk Er. These results suggest that the magnetoelastic energy has been altered in the superlattice samples due to lattice clamping to the substrate and at the interfaces.