Effect of microstructures on the Gilbert damping in Co/Ni multilayers

• Multilayers of Co/Ni with various thickness ratios were prepared and their magnetic properties were evaluated.
• Spin dynamics in the multilayer films were characterized from Gilbert damping constant α measured by time resolved MOKE.
• Gilbert damping behaviors in multilayers were correlated with structural characteristics.

Proper understanding of spin dynamics in the magnetic multilayer system is a necessary step for the fabrication of practical magnetic devices. In the present study, spin dynamics in the [Co/Ni]N/Ti multilayers at various Co and Ni layer thicknesses were obtained by optical method with the aim to identify the structural effects on the Gilbert damping constant of the multilayer system. It was found that the change of crystallinity and magnetocrystalline anisotropy depending on the relative thicknesses ratio of Co and Ni layers work as the main factor to determine the Gilbert damping behavior.

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