Localization in thin films of Bi with magnetic overlayers

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Abstract
We report the results of a comprehensive study of localization and electron-electron interaction effects in thin Bi films, Bi/Co multilayers, and Bi/Co/Bi sandwiches. Measurements of the electrical resistance and magnetoconductance have allowed us to separate the contributions to the resistance due to localization and electron-electron interactions. These have been utilized to determine the different scattering times due to these interactions. The overall behavior of these scattering times, excepting the magnetic scattering, is in good agreement with theory. Inelastic scattering has been shown to arise due to electron-electron scattering and the absolute magnitude of this scattering rate agrees reasonably well with theory. An anomalously sharp decrease of the magnetic scattering with a lowering of the temperature is observed. An explanation of this behavior has been attempted through the spin-wave theory of thin films. The observed surface magnetic impurities behave quite differently from the bulk impurities in metals and constitutes an important finding of this work.