Induced Magnetism In Cu Nanoparticles Embedded In Co

One-dimensionally confined nonferromagnetic layers of Cu grown between ferromagnetic layers of Co have an average induced magnetic moment that decreases with Cu film thickness. We studied the effects of changing the nature of confinement to three dimensions by embedding Cu nanoparticles in a Co matrix and measuring the induced moments using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The nanoparticle spin moments were more than twice that of films of comparable thickness due to the three dimensional confinement and greater interfacial area. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.