Interfaces and strain in multilayers probed by NMR

The interface structure and local strains of [111] fcc Co/Ni multilayers have been studied with nuclear magnetic resonance. The results show that at the interfaces mixing between Co and Ni occurs over at least two monolayers and that the Co layers have uniform compressive strain inversely proportional to the Co thickness. Comparison with earlier results on [111] fcc Co/Cu multilayers reveals that the uniform strain in the Co layers must originate from the lattice mismatch.