Polarization analysis of off-specular neutron scattering from domains and rough interfaces in a FeCoV/TiZr multilayer

Specular neutron reflectivity is commonly used as a powerful tool in determining the scattering length density (SLD) profile perpendicular to the surface of thin films. Information about the lateral fluctuations in the SLD, such as the presence of magnetic domains and rough interfaces between layers, can be obtained by studying the pattern of off-specular scattering. Advancements in neutron-source brilliance, beam-line optics and detector efficiency, as well as advances in the theoretical description of off-specular scattering, have contributed to the increasing importance of off-specular neutron-reflectometry studies. We present specular and off-specular polarized neutron reflectometry experiments on FeCoV/TiZr multilayers, with a detailed description of the orientations of the magnetic moments inside the FeCoV layers and at the FeCoV/TiZr interfaces. (orig.)