Correlation between Thermal Expansion and Magnetic Characteristics of Fe-Ni Alloys in Fe_1-xNi_x/Cu Superlattices

Thermal expansion behaviors of FeNi alloys were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction technique within a Fe_1-xNi_x/Cu superiattice structure. It was found that with a Ni concentration of x = 0.35, FeNi alloy layers showed the well-known Invar behavior, but for alloy layers with either lower or higher Ni concentrations, thermal expansion coefficients were larger. Based on results of magnetic measurements it is concluded that FeNi alloy layers with Ni concentrations lower than the Invar composition are in a superparamagnetic state which leads not only to low spontaneous magnetizations but also to large thermal expansions of the alloy layers.