A difference between nuclear and magnetic roughness in polycrystalline CoFe/TiZr multilayers was observed by polarized neutron reflectometry. We infer from the neutron data that (a) the thickness of hardly magnetized regions with roughness induced magnetic inhomogeneities at the interfaces of magnetic and non-magnetic layers is 0.55±0.02 nm and (b) the magnetic roughness is less than the nuclear (structural) roughness by 0.22±0.02 nm. The difference between nuclear and magnetic roughness is a new factor, which was not so far considered in theory of polarizing neutron coatings and which may play a significant role in defining their performance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)62-64
Number of pages3
JournalPhysica B: Condensed Matter
Volume397
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jul 2007

    Research areas

  • Interfaces, Multilayers, Nuclear and magnetic roughness, Polarizing neutron supermirrors

    Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

ID: 86506395