By neutron diffraction we show that superlattices of Dy and Y grown by molecular-beam epitaxy along the hcp b axis exhibit little magnetic coupling between successive Dy layers, even for Y spacers as thin as 9 atomic planes (26 Å). Previous studies of Dy/Y superlattices grown along the hcp c axis established that long-range three-dimensional helimagnetic ordering takes place even through Y spacer layers as thick as 120 Å. This highly anisotropic coupling behavior is shown to have its origin in nearly-two-dimensional nesting features of the Y and Dy Fermi surfaces. Nesting along the c axis gives rise to sharp peaks along c in the wave-vector-dependent magnetic susceptibility, and causes the exchange coupling to exhibit long-range oscillations in real space. The lack of nesting features along the b axis leaves a rapid exponential decay of the exchange interaction with spin separation. From magnetic measurements by superconducting-quantum-interference-device magnetometry on b-axis superlattices and films, we deduce that the first-order ferromagnetic transition of Dy is suppressed, and that the critical field required to produce the ferromagnetic alignment is much higher than the c-axis counterpart. This difference arises from anisotropy of the energy balance of the system. The magnetic coherence in b-axis superlattices and films is anisotropic and exhibits an unusual temperature dependence.

• Received 26 November 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.43.13320