Magnetic properties of a Pd/Co/Pd ultrathin film studied by polarized neutron specular reflection

Polarized neutron specular reflection (PNSR) was used for the study of the magnetization profile of the sandwich Pd/Co(21 Å/Pd in a saturating magnetic field prepared by high vacuum vapor deposition on a Au film deposited on a Si(111) and Si(100) substrate. We deduce a magnetic moment per Co atom of 1.84μ B in comparison to 1.73μ B of the bulk. Alternatively a possible induced magnetic moment of the Pd at the Co/Pd interface of 0.4μ B is discussed. Neutron reflection was also used to determine the non-magnetic structure and the nuclear neutron scattering density profile by applying the saturating magnetic field perpendicular to the surface.