Structural and magnetic characterization of [Co(2)MnGe/MgO](n) and [Co(2)MnGe/Al(2)O(3)](n) multilayers by polarized neutron reflectivity

We have studied multilayers of the ferromagnetic Heusler half-metal Co(2)MnGe with MgO and Al(2)O(3) interlayers using polarized neutron reflectivity (PNR) and magnetization measurements. The magnetization profile of the Co(2)MnGe layers was determined by fitting PNR curves measured in magnetic saturation at 10 K. We find in [Co(2)MnGe/Al(2)O(3)](n) a magnetization profile definitely different from the nuclear density profile with non-ferromagnetic interlayers at the top and the bottom of each Heusler layer. In contrast, the magnetization profile of the Heusler layers in [Co(2)MnGe/MgO](n) is found to be more similar to the chemical profile with only a small reduction of the magnetization at both interfaces.