Showing papers on "Magnetic anisotropy published in 1998"

Ferromagnetic resonance of ultrathin metallic layers

Abstract: The contribution that the technique of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) has made to the understanding of the magnetic behaviour of ultrathin single films is reviewed. Experimental methods to measure FMR in situ in ultrahigh vacuum are presented. The temperature dependence of the magnetization, of the magnetic relaxation rate in the vicinity of the Curie temperature, and of the second- and fourth-order magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) constants can be measured by FMR in situ for magnetic monolayers. Using the cases of Ni/Cu(001) and Gd/W(110) as examples, the role of the MAE for the quantitative description of temperature- and thickness-dependent reorientation transitions of the magnetization is discussed. Initial results for the anisotropy of the g-factor which is related to the anisotropy of the orbital moment (and the MAE) are presented.

Planar Patterned Magnetic Media Obtained by Ion Irradiation

Abstract: By ion irradiation through a lithographically made resist mask, the magnetic properties of cobalt-platinum simple sandwiches and multilayers were patterned without affecting their roughness and optical properties. This was demonstrated on arrays of 1-micrometer lines by near- and far-field magnetooptical microscopy. The coercive force and magnetic anisotropy of the irradiated regions can be accurately controlled by the irradiation fluence. If combined with high-resolution lithography, this technique holds promise for ultrahigh-density magnetic recording applications.

Two-dimensional ferroelectric films

Abstract: Ultrathin crystalline films offer the possibility of exploring phase transitions in the crossover region between two and three dimensions. Second-order ferromagnetic phase transitions have been observed in monolayer magnetic films1,2, where surface anisotropy energy stabilizes the two-dimensional ferromagnetic state at finite temperature3. Similarly, a number of magnetic materials have magnetic surface layers that show a second-order ferromagnetic–paramagnetic phase transition with an increased Curie temperature4. Ferroelectricity is in many ways analogous to ferromagnetism, and bulk-like ferroelectricity and finite-size modifications of it have been seen in nanocrystals as small as 250 A in diameter5, in perovskite films 100 A thick6 and in crystalline ferroelectric polymers as thin as 25 A (7-10). But these results can be interpreted as bulk ferroelectricity suppressed by surface depolarization energies, and imply that the bulk transition has a minimum critical size11,12,13. Here we report measurements of the ferroelectric transition in crystalline films of a random copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene just 10 A (two monolayers) thick. We see a first-order ferroelectric phase transition with a transition temperature nearly equal to the bulk value, even in these almost two-dimensional films. In addition, we see a second first-order transition at a lower temperature, which seems to be associated with the surface layers only. The near-absence of finite-size effects on the bulk transition implies that these films must be considered as two-dimensional ferroelectrics.

Model for strain and magnetization in magnetic shape-memory alloys

Abstract: The large magnetic-field-induced strains observed in martensitic phases based on Ni2MnGa and in other magnetic shape memory alloys are believed to arise from a process of twin-boundary motion rather than magnetostriction. The dependence of strain on magnetization, e(M), generally shows a large component that is linear (rather than quadratic) in M below saturation (quadratic dependence being typical of magnetostrictive strain). A simple phenomenological model for the magnetization process and field-induced strain by twin-boundary and phase-boundary motion is proposed for both the strong and weak anisotropy cases. The model is shown to account for the nearly linear dependence of strain on magnetization in the martensitic phases of these materials. It shows the field dependence of the magnetization and strain to be functions of an effective stiffness constant, C, the transformation strain, e0, and the magnetic anisotropy of the martensitic phase, Ku, through two reduced field parameters, he=MsH/Ce02 and ha=M...

Langevin-dynamics study of the dynamical properties of small magnetic particles

Abstract: The stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation of motion for a classical magnetic moment is numerically solved (properly observing the customary interpretation of it as a Stratonovich stochastic differential equation), in order to study the dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles. The corresponding Langevin-dynamics approach allows for the study of the fluctuating trajectories of individual magnetic moments, where we have encountered remarkable phenomena in the overbarrier rotation process, such as crossing-back or multiple crossing of the potential barrier, rooted in the gyromagnetic nature of the system. Concerning averaged quantities, we study the linear dynamic response of the archetypal ensemble of noninteracting classical magnetic moments with axially symmetric magnetic anisotropy. The results are compared with different analytical expressions used to model the relaxation of nanoparticle ensembles, assessing their accuracy. It has been found that, among a number of heuristic expressions for the linear dynamic susceptibility, only the simple formula proposed by Shliomis and Stepanov matches the coarse features of the susceptibility reasonably. By comparing the numerical results with the asymptotic formula of Storonkin {Sov. Phys. Crystallogr. 30, 489 (1985) [Kristallografiya 30, 841 (1985)]}, the effects of the intra-potential-well relaxation modes on the low-temperature longitudinal dynamic response have been assessed, showing their relatively small reflection in the susceptibility curves but their dramatic influence on the phase shifts. Comparison of the numerical results with the exact zero-damping expression for the transverse susceptibility by Garanin, Ishchenko, and Panina {Theor. Math. Phys. (USSR) 82, 169 (1990) [Teor. Mat. Fiz. 82, 242 (1990)]}, reveals a sizable contribution of the spread of the precession frequencies of the magnetic moment in the anisotropy field to the dynamic response at intermediate-to-high temperatures.

Surface effects on the magnetic properties of ultrafine cobalt particles

Abstract: Monodispersed nanoparticles of cobalt have been prepared by an original method using the decomposition under hydrogen of an organometallic precursor in the presence of a stabilizing polymer. Two colloids (Coll-I and Coll-II) have been obtained by changing the organometallic concentration in the polymer. Observation by high-resolution transmission electronic microscopy (HRTEM) showed Co particles well isolated and regularly dispersed in the polymer with a very narrow size distribution centered around 1.5 nm (Coll-I) and 2 nm (Coll-II) diameter. These particles are superparamagnetic above the blocking temperature 9 K (Coll-I) and 13.5 K (Coll-II). The particle size deduced from the analyses of the magnetic susceptibilities and magnetization curves are consistent with those measured by HRTEM. Magnetization at 5 K seems to saturate in fields up to 5 T leading to an enhanced mean magnetic moment per atom for both samples, where $〈{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{Co}}〉=1.94\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05$ ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ for the smallest particles. High-field magnetization measurements, up to 35 T, increases nearly linearly with the applied field. This is equivalent to an increase of the mean magnetic moment with $〈{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{Co}}〉=2.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1$ ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ at 35 T for the smallest particles. The effective magnetic anisotropies are found to be larger than that of the bulk materials and decrease with increasing particle size. This set of data allows us to conclude that the enhanced magnetization, its increase with applied magnetic field, and the enhanced effective magnetic anisotropy are associated with the large influence of the surface atoms and are more significant with decreasing size.

Microscopic origin of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in transition metal thin films

Abstract: We investigate the relation between the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) and the electronic structure for transition metal thin films and surfaces which can display enhanced orbital magnetic moments. When the spin-orbit interaction is treated in second order, the MAE is proportional to the expectation value of the orbital magnetic moment as given by Bruno's model. However, there are additional terms which are related to the spin-subband orbital moment and to the magnetic dipole operator due to the anisotropy of the field of the spin. The latter term accounts for the spin-flip excitations between the exchange split majority and minority spin bands. A conjecture is proposed which relates the MAE to the expectation values of the orbital moments and the magnetic dipole term. It is shown how the different terms can be obtained experimentally with (transverse) magnetic circular x-ray dichroism. The model explains the experimentally observed perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co and Fe based multilayers and thin films.

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and magnetic domain structure in sputtered epitaxial FePt (001) L10 films

Abstract: The magnetic domain structure and magnetization curves of chemically ordered epitaxial FePt (001) films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are discussed. Films were dc magnetron sputtered from a Fe50Pt50 alloy target onto Pt seeded MgO (001) at substrate temperatures of 550 °C. The thickness of the FePt layers was varied between 18 and 170 nm. Specular and grazing incidence x-ray diffraction measurements confirm the presence of the anisotropic, face centered tetragonal (L10) crystal structure. Long range chemical order parameters of up to 0.95 and small mosaic spread, similar to results reported for FePt (001) films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. For film thicknesses ⩾50 nm in-plane and out-of-plane hysteresis measurements indicate large perpendicular magnetic anisotropies and at the same time low (about 10%) perpendicular remanence. Magnetic force microscopy reveals highly interconnected perpendicular stripe domain patterns. From their characteristic widths, which are strongly dependent on the film...

Temperature-induced magnetization reversal in a YVO3 single crystal

Abstract: The total energy of a magnet in a magnetic field is lowest when the magnetic moment is aligned parallel to the magnetic field. Once aligned, the magnetic moment can be reversed by applying a sufficiently large field in the opposite direction. These properties form the basis of most magnetic recording and storage devices. But the phenomenon of magnetization reversal in response to a change in temperature (in a small magnetic field) is rarer. This effect occurs in some ferrimagnetic materials consisting of two or more types of antiferromagnetically ordered magnetic ions1, and forms the operational basis of ferrimagnetic insulators. Here we report the observation of multiple temperature-induced magnetization reversals in YVO3. The net magnetic moment is caused by a tilting of the antiferromagnetically aligned moments of (crystallographically identical) V3+ ions, due to orthorhombic distortion in the crystal structure. We observe an abrupt switching at 77 K associated with a first-order structural phase transition, and a gradual reversal at ∼95 K without an accompanying structural change. The magnetization always reverses if the crystal is cooled or warmed through these two temperatures in modest fields. We propose a possible mechanism involving a change in orbital ordering which may be generic to a broad class of transition metal oxides.

The relationship between field-cooled and zero-field-cooled susceptibilities of some ordered magnetic systems

Abstract: Analysis of the irreversible field-cooled (FC) and the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetic susceptibilities of one ferrimagnetic and three ferromagnetic systems, measured at different applied magnetic fields, shows that the irreversibility indicated by the difference between the FC and the ZFC susceptibilities arises from magnetic anisotropy. The two susceptibilities are related to each other through the coercivity which is a measure of the anisotropy. The ZFC susceptibility can be calculated from the FC susceptibility (or vice versa) and the coercivity.

Ferromagnetic Bulk Amorphous Alloys

Abstract: This article reviews our recent results on the development of ferromagnetic bulk amorphous alloys prepared by casting processes. The multicomponent Fe-(Al,Ga)-(P,C,B,Si) alloys are amorphized in the bulk form with diameters up to 2 mm, and the temperature interval of the supercooled liquid region before crystallization is in the range of 50 to 67 K. These bulk amorphous alloys exhibit good soft magnetic properties, i.e., high B s of 1.1 to 1.2 T, low H o of 2 to 6 A/m, and high μ e of about 7000 at 1 kHz. The Nd-Fe-Al and Pr-Fe-Al bulk amorphous alloys are also produced in the diameter range of up to 12 mm by the copper mold casting process and exhibit rather good hard magnetic properties, i.e., B r of about 0.1 T, high H o of 300 to 400 kA/m, and rather high (JH)max of 13 to 20 kJ/m3. The crystallization causes the disappearance of the hard magnetic properties. Furthermore, the melt-spun Nd-Fe-Al and Pr-Fe-Al alloy ribbons exhibit soft-type magnetic properties. Consequently, the hard magnetic properties are concluded to be obtained only for the bulk amorphous alloys. The bulk Nd- and Pr-Fe-Al amorphous alloys have an extremely high T x/Tm of about 0.90 and a small ΔT m(=T m−T x) of less than 100 K and, hence, their large glass-forming ability is due to the steep increase in viscosity in the supercooled liquid state. The high T x/Tm enables the development of a fully relaxed, clustered amorphous structure including Nd-Nd and Nd-Fe atomic pairs. It is, therefore, presumed that the hard magnetic properties are due to the development of Nd-Nd and Nd-Fe atomic pairs with large random magnetic anisotropy. The Nd- and Pr-based bulk amorphous alloys can be regarded as a new type of clustered amorphous material, and the control of the clustered amorphous structure is expected to enable the appearance of novel functional properties which cannot be obtained for an ordinary amorphous structure.

Ferromagnetic resonance studies of NiO-coupled thin films of Ni 80 Fe 20

Abstract: This paper describes ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and magnetoresistive measurements of thin magnetic films coupled to antiferromagnetic films. First, FMR results for films of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{80}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{20}$ show that coupling to NiO produces the angular variation in the resonance field of the type expected for unidirectional exchange anisotropy. However, unidirectional anisotropy values measured by in-plane ferromagnetic resonance are roughly 20% less than the loop shift measured via magnetoresistance. The difference is attributed in part to asymmetry in the coercivity. Second, in addition to the unidirectional anisotropy, coupling to NiO produces an isotropic negative resonance field shift that is larger than the exchange anisotropy field. This isotropic field shift is not consistent with models of exchange anisotropy in which the ferromagnet spins couple to a static antiferromagnet spin structure. It is consistent with the existence of a rotatable anisotropy, explained in terms of the energetics of domain configurations in the NiO. Third, using unpinned films as references, unidirectional anisotropy is measured for the first time with the magnetization rotated out of the film plane, and is found to be in reasonable agreement with in-plane measurements.

Magnetization Reversal in Micron-Sized Magnetic Thin Films

Abstract: We have measured and simulated the dynamics of magnetization reversal in 5 nm by 0.8 by 1.6 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{60}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{40}$ thin films. The films measured form the upper electrode of a spin-polarized tunnel junction so that the magnetization direction of the film can be probed by measuring the tunneling resistance of the junction. When a magnetic field pulse is applied, the time to switch the film magnetization changes from greater than 10 ns to less than 500 ps as the pulse amplitude is increased from the coercive field to 10 mT and beyond. We have simulated these transitions using micromagnetic modeling of the exact experimental conditions. The simulations agree well with the experimental measurements.

Random and exchange anisotropy in consolidated nanostructured Fe and Ni: Role of grain size and trace oxides on the magnetic properties

Abstract: Results of magnetization measurements on nanocrystalline Fe and Ni produced by inert-gas condensation are presented. The grain size, which is about 10 to 20 nm in the as-prepared state, is increased by annealing the samples incrementally from 100 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C to 1000 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The coercive field shows a pronounced variation with grain size, with a maximum at around 30 nm and a steep decrease for smaller grain sizes. The coercivity is discussed on the basis of the random-anisotropy model that predicts that the effective anisotropy constant is reduced by averaging over magnetically coupled grains. This behavior is observed as long as the grain size is smaller than the effective bulk domain-wall width. The model also accounts for the approach to saturation in nanostructured Fe yielding values for the ferromagnetic correlation length and the anisotropy constant of the grains. The latter is about four times higher than the bulk value of Fe. Hysteresis measurements at 5 K after field cooling show a shift and broadening of the hysteresis loops for both Fe and Ni, which is attributed to an exchange coupling between the ferromagnetic grains and antiferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic (oxide) interfacial phases. The hysteresis shift decreases and finally vanishes with increasing grain size. This is indicative of a restructuring of the oxides, which is confirmed by the coercive field of the Fe samples showing a step at about 120 K caused by a phase transition of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}.$ The step vanishes again with further increasing grain size. The saturation magnetization of the Ni samples increases with increasing annealing temperature, a fact that is attributed to the evolution of the oxides also.

Magnetization reversal in ultrashort magnetic field pulses

Abstract: Strong in-plane magnetic field pulses of 2--4.4 ps duration are used to study magnetization reversal in perpendicularly magnetized Co/Pt films. Ring domains, reminiscent of the field contour during exposure, are observed later with Kerr microscopy. Their radii represent switching fields which are in quantitative agreement with the coherent rotation model. The observation of intrinsic transition broadening is attributed to the existence of static and dynamic fluctuations of the magnetic anisotropy.

Thermally Activated Relaxation Time of a Single Domain Ferromagnetic Particle Subjected to a Uniform Field at an Oblique Angle to the Easy Axis: Comparison with Experimental Observations

Abstract: New asymptotes of the relaxation time of the magnetic moment of a single domain particle with a uniform magnetic field applied at an oblique angle to the easy axis (in excellent agreement with exact numerical results from the Fokker-Planck equation for the N\'eel-Brown model) are used to model the experimental angular variation of the switching field for individual Co and BaFeCoTiO particles. Good agreement is obtained, justifying the N\'eel-Brown (in effect, the Kramers) conception of the superparamagnetic relaxation process and allowing one to deduce the value of the damping constant (hitherto almost unknown).

Collarless circularly magnetized torque transducer and method for measuring torque using same

Abstract: A magnetoelastic torque sensor (2) for providing an output signal (24) indicative of the torque applied to a member about an axially extending axis of the member (11), comprising, a first magnetoelastically active region in the member, the region being magnetically polarized in a single circumferential direction and possessing sufficient magnetic anisotropy to return the magnetization in the region, following the application of torque to the member, to the single circumferential direction when the applied torque is reduced to zero, whereby the magnetoelastically active region produces a magnetic field varying with the torque. Magnetic field sensors are mounted proximate to the magnetoelastically active region (ABC) and oriented with respect thereto to sense the magnitude of the magnetic field at the sensors (6) and provide the output signal in response thereto (24). At least the magnetoelastically active region of the member is formed of a polycrystalline material wherein at least 50 % of the distribution of local magnetizations lie within a 90 °C quadrant symmetrically disposed around the single circular direction and having a coercivity sufficiently high that the field arising from the magnetoelastically active region does not magnetize regions of the member proximate to the magnetoelastically active region to give rise to parasitic magnetic fields which are of sufficient strength to destroy the usefulness, for torque sensing purposes, of the net magnetic field seen by the magnetic field sensor means.

Two-Dimensional Magnetic Particles

Abstract: Single two-dimensional (2D) atomically thick magnetic particles of cobalt and iron with variable size and shape were fabricated by combining a mask technique with standard molecular beam epitaxy. Reduction of the lateral size of in-plane magnetized 2D cobalt films down to about 100 nanometers did not essentially modify their magnetic properties; although the separation of boundaries decreased greatly, neither domain penetrated the particle, nor was any sizable shape anisotropy observed. The mutual interaction of 2D cobalt particles was negligible, and the magnetic state of a single particle could be switched without modifying the state of the neighbors. Perpendicularly magnetized iron particles did not exhibit such responses. These results suggest that only a few atoms forming a 2D in-plane magnetized dot may provide a stable elementary bit for nanorecording.

Magnetoelastic coupling and magnetic anisotropy in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 films

Abstract: We report the results of magnetization measurements on pseudomorphic (fully strained) c-axis oriented colossal magnetoresistance manganite thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. We observe uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (hard axis/easy plane) with the easy plane being the film plane. Within the plane a weaker biaxial anisotropy is observed with [100] (Mn–O bond direction) easy axes. The magnetization dependence of the uniaxial anisotropy constant follows the predicted magnetization dependence of the magnetostriction constants within single-ion models indicating that the anisotropy energy is dominated by strain-induced anisotropy from the lattice constant mismatch with the SrTiO3 substrate. These results indicate a magnetostriction constant λ100≈+7×10−5, and an induced orbital moment of at least 0.02μb/Mn ion. We predict that by appropriate substrate selection an equilibrium out-of-plane magnetization can be produced.

Perpendicular coupling at Fe–FeF2 interfaces

Abstract: We have studied the exchange anisotropy of ferromagnetic Fe films grown on antiferromagnetic FeF2 single crystals. The behavior of the hysteresis loops of the Fe above and below the Neel temperature TN of FeF2 indicates a 90° rotation of the ferromagnetic easy axis due to the antiferromagnetic ordering. By examining the Fe hysteresis loops together with the FeF2 susceptibility behavior we infer that below TN the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spins are coupled perpendicular to each other. This behavior can be explained by recent micromagnetic calculations on exchange bias systems, or by magnetoelastic effects.

Interplay between chains of S=5/2 localised spins and two-dimensional sheets of organic donors in the synthetically built magnetic multilayer λ-(BETS)2FeCl4

Abstract: In order to understand the magnetic field-induced restoration of a highly conductive state in λ ‒ (BETS)2FeCl4, static (SQUID) and dynamic (ESR and AFR) magnetization measurements were performed on polycrystalline samples and single crystals, respectively. In addition, cantilever and resistivity measurements under steady fields were performed. While the metal-insulator transition curve of the (T, B) phase diagram exhibits a first order character, a “spin-flop” transition line divides the insulating state when the magnetic field is applied along the easy axis of magnetization. The effects of a RKKY-type indirect exchange and of applied magnetic field are described within the framework of a generalized Kondo lattice, namely two chains of S = 5/2 Fe3+ localised spins coupled through the itinerant spins of the 2D sheets of BETS. The calculations, which can incorporate intramolecular electron correlations within a mean field theory, are in qualitative agreement with the field induced transition from the antiferromagnetic insulating ground state to a canted one, i.e. a not fully oriented paramagnetic, but metallic state.

Magnetization Plateaus in NH4CuCl3

Abstract: The magnetic susceptibility and high-field magnetization process of NH 4 CuCl 3 with double chains of CuCl 3 have been measured using single crystals. No anomaly indicative of the three-dimensional ordering is observed in susceptibility data above 1.7 K. It is found, by magnetization measurement down to 0.5 K, that in contrast to KCuCl 3 and TlCuCl 3 , NH 4 CuCl 3 has a gapless magnetic ground state at zero field. It is observed that the magnetization curve has two plateaus at one-quarter and three-quarters of the saturation magnetization, irrespective of the external field direction. The origin of the plateaus is attributed not to the magnetic anisotropy, but to the quantum effect. The relation between the plateaus and the period of the spin state is discussed in terms of a recent theory presented by Oshikawa et al . [Phys. Rev. Lett. 78 (1997) 1984].