Abstract.
The local surface oxidation of the permalloy surface layer in Py/Cu GMR multilayers on a micron lateral scale has been analyzed by means of a microspot-X-ray absorption spectromicroscope utilizing synchrotron radiation from the Advanced Light Source bending magnet beamline 6.3.2. Additionally, the GMR multilayer samples prepared by dc magnetron sputtering have been analyzed by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, hard X-ray reflection and magnetoresistance measurements. The formation of a passivating iron-oxide layer on the sample surface was identified by X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) near the Fe-2p edge while no indication for nickel-oxide formation could be found. Small micron-size pits of reduced iron-oxide concentration could be identified by XANES microscopy while the corresponding nickel distribution appeared to be homogeneous. The results are explained in terms of a local breakdown of the passivating oxide layer.
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Received:16 October 2000 / Accepted: 4 December 2000 / Published online: 21 March 2001
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Kleineberg, U., Haindl, G., Hütten, A. et al. Microcharacterization of the surface oxidation of Py/Cu multilayers by scanning X-ray absorption spectromicroscopy . Appl Phys A 73, 515–519 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003390100801
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003390100801