Coherent fan magnetic structure in Dy/Gd superlattices

The magnetic structure of pseudo-single-crystal (0001) Dy/Gd superlattices, as well as its modification with the temperature, is determined by the combined application of SQUID magnetometry, circular magnetic dichroism, and polarized neutron reflectometry. It is established that a fan magnetic order is formed in the Dy layers in relatively low magnetic fields at temperatures below 170 K. Then, this order propagates coherently throughout the superlattice. The magnetic moments in the Dy layers lie in the basal plane, and in the Gd layers, they are oriented mainly along the hexagonal $c$ axis.