• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.188.1-188.1
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• 2015

For present investigation Fe/MgO/Fe/Co multilayer stack is grown on Si substrate using e-beam evaporation in ultrahigh vacuum. This stack is irradiated perpendicularly by 120 MeV $Ag^{8+}$ at different fluences ranging from $1{\times}10^{11}$ to $1{\times}10^{13}ions/cm^2$ in high vacuum using 15UD Pelletron Accelerator at Inter University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi. Magnetic measurements carried out on pre and post irradiated stacks show significant changes in the shape of perpendicular hysteresis which is relevant with previous observation of re-orientation of magnetic moment along the direction of ion trajectory. However increase in plane squareness may be due to the modification of interface structure of stacks. X-ray reflectivity measurements show onset of interface roughness and interface mixing. X-ray diffraction measurements carried out using synchrotron radiation shows amorphous nature of MgO and Co layer in the stack. Peak corresponding body centered Fe [JCPDS-06-0696] is observed in X-ray diffraction pattern of pre and post irradiated stacks. Peak broadening shows granular nature of Fe layer. Estimated crystallite size is $22{\pm}1nm$ for pre-irradiated stack. Crystallite size first increases with irradiation then decreases. Structural quality of these stacks was further studied using transmission electron microscopic measurements. Thickness from these measurements are 54, 36, 23, 58 and 3 nm respectively for MgO, Fe, MgO, Fe+Co and Au layers in the stack. These measurements envisage poor crystallinity of different layers. Interfaces are not clear which indicate mixing at interface. With increase fluence mixing and diffusion was increased in the stack. X-ray absorption spectroscopic measurements carried out on these stacks show changes of Fe valence state after irradiation along with change of O(2p)-metal (3d) hybridized state. Valence state change predicts oxide formation at interface which causes enhanced in-plane magnetization.