A study of the magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Co/Cr/Pd multilayers

A series of Co/Cr/Pd modulated multilayers with Cr layer thickness X-Cr ranging from 0 to 1.13 nm have been prepared by magnetron sputtering system on 40 nm thick Pd buffer. With combimed small- and large-angle X-ray analyses, the layered and crystal structure of the samples were investigated. The magnetic hysteresis loops and domain structure were perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and the coercivity of the multilayers decrease with the increase of Cr thickness,which was ascribed to the reduction of the polarization of Pd atoms and the interlayer roughness, respectively. The Kerr rotation and ellipticity of the multilayers were also studied. The decrease of Kerr rotation with the increase of the Cr thickness was assumed to be due to the decrease of the polarization of Pd atoms.