Magnetic profile in Nb/Si superconducting multilayers.

Polarized neutron reflectivity measurements were conducted on [Nb(100{angstrom})/Si(15{angstrom})]xN superconducting multilayers with a T{sub c} {approximately} 7.5 K. Scope of the experiment was to verify the existence of arrays of vortices parallel to the surface above the critical field H{sub cl} = 400 Oe when a magnetic field was applied parallel to the film plane. Measurements at 1.6 K and 700 Oe in the zero-field-cooled condition, and at 30 Oe after field cooling, indicated that reflectivity close to the first Bragg reflection of the multilayer was significantly dependent on the neutron spin. This effect was interpreted as due to Josephson type vortices at and around the silicon layers