X-ray resonant magnetic scattering on noncollinearly coupled Fe/Cr superlattices

We have studied in detail the structural and magnetic properties of an antiferromagnetically (AF) coupled Cr(25.6 Å)/Fe(15.2 Å) superlattice by soft X-ray resonant magnetic scattering. Using the resonance condition close to the Fe L3 edge, magnetic peaks are observed at the half-orders Bragg peaks positions. The magnetic hysteresis loops measured at the even-order and at the half-order Bragg peaks demonstrate the biquadratic type of AF coupling for Fe/Cr multilayer. Experimental data were simulated using the matrix formalizm in order to go away from macroscopic magnetic properties of such superlattices and to understand their layer-by-layer magnetic structure.