SUBLAYER THICKNESS DEPENDENCE OF THE OPTICALPROPERTIES OF NI/TI AND Fe/Zr MULTILAERS

The study of the thickness dependence of the electron energy structure of Fe, Ni, Ti and Zr sublayers in Ni/Ti and Fe/Zr multilayers by using the experimental and computer simulated optical spectroscopy has been performed. A series of Ni/Ti and Fe/Ze multiayered films (MLF) with a bilayer period of 0.5 - 30 nm and constant (Ni/Ti) / different (Fe/Zr) sublayer thickness ratios were prepared by using computer-controlled double-pair target face-to-face sputtering onto a glass substrate at room temperature (RT) Computer simulation of the resulting optical properties of these MLF was carried out by solving of multireflection problem with a matrix method assuming either "sharp" interfaces resulting in rectangular depth profiles of the components or "mixed" (alloy-like) interfaces of variable thickness between pure-metal sublayers. Optical constants of pure bulk metals as well as equiatomic alloy interfaces were employed in these simulations. It was shown that the difference between experimental and simulated optical properties of the investigated MLF increases with decrease in sublayer thickness. This result allows to conclude that the electronic structures of sublayers below 4-5 nm thickness in mlf differ from the corresponding bulk metals.ponding bulk metals.