Low temperature properties of Mo/Ni superlattices

This paper presents results of a combined study of the structural and electronic properties of Mo/Ni superlattices grown by the sequential sputtering technique (2). It focuses on the region of short modulation wavelength (14A < ..lambda.. < 40A) where strong departures from normal bulk properties may be expected. These are most clearly seen in the competition between magnetic (Ni) and superconducting (Mo) behavior, and in the occurrence of localization effects at low temperatures. Although the samples show a surprisingly high degree of stacking coherence normal to the layers there is an intrinsic interfacial mismatch in these mixed bcc-fcc microstructures which is crucial to understanding their electrical properties.