Magnetization and configurational anisotropy in magnetic clusters: Monte Carlo simulation

Based on the Monte Carlo simulation, the magnetic properties of the clusters, e.g. magnetization, Curie temperature, hysteresis, coercivity, natural angle and energy distribution etc., have been calculated. It has been found that, for the pure ferromagnetic cluster, the T^3/2 Bloch law is well satisfied at low temperature (T < 0.5 T_C) and B_sur is equal to 3 B_bulk. Meanwhile, there are clear indications that B increases drastically with the reducing atomic number Nwhich is consistent with the experimental facts. The results have been evalucted using the Bloch exponent law in the approximate crystalline approximation. It has also been demonstrated that the size dependence of the Curie temperature can be described by finite-size scaling theory. The investigation of the hysteresis and the spin configurations in different magnetization processes reveals the existence of an easy magnetization direction and anisotropy. The thermal coercivity for the clusters with zero and finite uniaxial anisotropy matches the experimental results well. The simulated results for the natural angle and energy distribution in the clusters prove further the existence of the configurational anisotropy in the clusters. It has been discussed that the natural angle and energy distribution influence the hysteresis of a cluster.Received: 10 September 2003, Published online: 15 March 2004PACS: 75.75. + a Magnetic properties of nanostructures - 75.40.Mg Numerical simulation studies - 75.60.Ej Magnetization curves, hysteresis, Barkhausen and related effects - 75.40.Cx Static properties (order parameter, static susceptibility, heat capacities, critical exponents, etc.)     

Magnetic behaviour of arrays of nickel nanowires with small diameter

Arrays of nickel nanowires have been fabricated within a template of porous alumina by electrochemical deposition. Measurements of magnetic hysteresis loops were performed at room temperature with a vibrating sample magnetometer. Coercivity and squareness of the arrays are closely related to l/D and diameter of the nanowires, and the angle θ between the normal line of the alumina surface and the applied magnetic field. For the same diameter of 10 nm, the coercivity and squareness increase remarkably with l/D when the l/D is less than 100. The diameter and angle θ dependences of coercivity do not follow the relationships of curling, fanning or coherent rotation mode of magnetization while thermal activation for magnetization reversal becomes remarkable for the arrays of Ni nanowires with the diameter less than 18 nm but the same l/D of 50. The coercivity of the arrays with the magnetic field perpendicular to the film surface is linear with D^−3/2 of Ni nanowires. From the fitting line, the critical diameter for superparamagnetism at room temperature and pure coercivity for such Ni nanowire arrays are found to be 6 nm and 1200 Oe respectively.     

Studies of the magnetic and reversal properties for thin CoCrTa films

The effects of magnetic layer thickness on film structural and magnetic properties were studied systematically with emphasis on the thermal effects on thin recording media films. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal structural changes as thickness decreases, and the existence of a “Cr enriched phase” associated with the interface. The saturation magnetization M_s decreases with thickness and the thickness of the “dead layer” was found to be ∼23 Å. Systematic measurements of effective anisotropy, coercivity and saturation magnetization as functions of temperature have been carried out. Magnetic viscosity measurements reveal that thermal stability is affected not only by grain sizes but also by anisotropy reduction associated with nanostructure evolution, as the film thickness decreases.     

Synchrotron radiation studies of mass-selected Fe nanoclusters deposited in situ

A portable UHV-compatible gas aggregation cluster source, capable of depositing clean mass-selected nanoclusters in situ, has been used at synchrotron radiation facilities to study the magnetic behaviour of exposed and Co-coated Fe clusters in the size range 250 to 540 atoms. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) studies of isolated and exposed 250-atom clusters show a 10% enhancement in the spin magnetic moment and a 75% enhancement in the orbital magnetic moment relative to bulk Fe. The spin moment monotonically approaches the bulk value with increasing cluster size but the orbital moment does not measurably decay till the cluster size is above ∼ 400 atoms. The total magnetic moments for the supported particles though higher than the bulk value are less than those measured in free clusters. Coating the deposited particles with Co in situ increases the spin moment by a further 10% producing a total moment per atom close to the free cluster value. At low coverages the deposited clusters are super-paramagnetic at temperatures above 10 K but a magnetic remanence at higher temperature emerges as the cluster density increases and for cluster films with a thickness greater than 50 ?(i.e. 2-3 layers of clusters) the remanence becomes greater than that of an Fe film of the same thickness produced by a conventional deposition source. Thick cluster-assembled film show a strong in-plane anisotropy. Received 14 December 2000     

Universal fluctuations in orbital diamagnetism

Bohr–van Leuween theorem has attracted the notice of physicists for more than 100 years. The theorem states about the absence of magnetisation in classical systems in thermal equilibrium. In this paper, we discuss about fluctuations of magnetic moment in classical systems. In recent years, this topic has been investigated intensively and it is not free from controversy. We have considered a system consisting of a single particle moving in a plane. A magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the plane. The system is in contact with a thermal bath. We have considered three cases: (a) particle moving in a homogeneous medium, (b) particle moving in a medium with space-dependent friction and (c) particle moving in a medium with space-dependent temperature. For all the three cases, the average magnetic moment and fluctuations in magnetic moment have been calculated. Average magnetic moment saturates to a finite value in the case of free particle but goes to zero when the particle is confined by a 2D harmonic potential. Fluctuations in magnetic moment shows universal features in the presence of arbitrary friction inhomogeneity. For this case, the system reaches equilibrium asymptotically. In the case of space-dependent temperature profile, the stationary distribution is non-Gibbsian and fluctuations deviate from universal value for the bounded system only.     

Mechanism of the formation of an uncompensated magnetic moment in bacterial ferrihydrite nanoparticles

The magnetic properties of antiferromagnetic nanoparticles of FeOOH · nH₂O with sizes of 3–7 nm, which are products of vital functions of Klebsiella oxytoca bacteria, have been studied. Particles exhibit a superparamagnetic behavior. The characteristic blocking temperature is 23 K. Analysis of the magnetization curves shows that the mechanism of the formation of the uncompensated magnetic moment of particles is the random decompensation of magnetic moments of Fe³⁺ ions both on the surface and in the bulk of the antiferromagnetic particle. In this mechanism, the exchange coupling between the uncompensated magnetic moment of the particle and its antiferromagnetic “core” is implemented. It has been found that the temperature dependence of the uncompensated magnetic moment has the form 1 — constT ².     

Magnetic and thermal properties of CuFeS<Subscript>2</Subscript> at low temperatures

The magnetic moment M, the magnetic susceptibility χ, and the thermal conductivity of chalcopyrite CuFeS₂, which is a zero-gap semiconductor with antiferromagnetic ordering, have been measured in the temperature range 10–310 K. It has been revealed that the quantities χ(T) and M(T) increase anomalously strongly at temperatures below ∼100 K. The temperature dependence M(T) is affected by the magnetic prehistory of the sample. An analysis has demonstrated that the magnetic anomalies are associated with the presence of a system of noninteracting magnetic clusters in the CuFeS₂ sample under investigation. The formation of the clusters is most likely caused by the disturbance of the ordered arrangement of Fe and Cu atoms in the metal sublattice of the chalcopyrite, which is also responsible for the phase inhomogeneity of the crystal lattice. The inhomogeneity brings about strong phonon scattering, and, as a result, the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity coefficient exhibits a behavior characteristic of partially disordered crystals.     

Anomalous magnetic properties of electron-irradiated antiferromagnetic copper monoxide

The influence of radiation defects on the magnetic properties of polycrystalline CuO and a high density nanoceramic with crystallite sizes d = 5 and 15 nm has been studied in the temperature range T = 77–300 K. Electron irradiation at fluences Φ = 5 × 10¹⁸ cm^?2 initiated an increase in the susceptibility χ ～ 1/T below 150 K, a feature anomalous for 3D antiferromagnets. The nonlinear behavior of magnetization in weak fields, the increase in the magnetic moment with decreasing temperature, and observation of the spontaneous magnetic moment at temperatures T < 150 K can be attributed to local changes in the exchange parameters and the formation of clusters with uncompensated magnetic moments in the antiferromagnetic matrix near point defects.     

Effects of synthesis variables on the magnetic properties of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe₂O₄) have been synthesized using precipitation in water solution with polyethylene glycol as surfactant. Influence of various synthesis variables included pH, reaction time and annealing temperature on the magnetic properties and particle sizes has also been studied. Structural identification of the samples was carried out using Thermogravimetric and Differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, High resolution transmission electron microscopy. Vibrating sample magnetometer was used for the magnetic investigation of the samples. Magnetic properties of nanoparticles show strong dependence on the particle size. The magnetic properties increase with pH of the precipitating medium and annealing temperature while the coercivity goes through a maximum, peaking at around 25 nm.     

Magnetization reversal processes in layered high-temperature superconductors with ferromagnetic impurities

The self-consistent interaction of a vortex system of a high-temperature superconductor and ferromagnetic impurities, including single impurities and their clusters, has been considered in the model of a layered high-temperature superconductor. For different temperatures and concentrations of ferromagnetic impurities, the magnetization reversal loops have been calculated by the Monte Carlo method taking into account an ensemble of ferromagnetic particles with different orientations of their easy magnetization axes with respect to the direction of an external magnetic field and for different magnetic anisotropy energies. It has been demonstrated that there is a nonlinear interaction of the high-temperature superconductor with ferromagnetic impurities, in which the initially thermodynamically reversible character of the magnetization reversal of the ferromagnetic ensemble can become irreversible. For a periodic lattice of clusters of ferromagnetic impurities, the magnetization curves of the high-temperature superconductor have been calculated for different sizes and configurations of the clusters. It has been revealed that, when extended defects are oriented parallel to the direction of the entrance of vortices in the sample, the length of the defects does not affect the remanent magnetization. It has been shown that the inclusion of the interaction between the magnetic moments inside the impurity cluster leads to a decrease in the magnetization reversal loop, the coercivity, and, accordingly, the energy loss due to magnetization reversal.     

Interaction effects in magnetic oxide nanoparticle systems

The interaction effects in magnetic nanoparticle system were studied through a Monte Carlo simulation. The results of simulations were compared with two different magnetic systems, namely, iron oxide polymer nanocomposites prepared by polymerization over core and nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite thin films prepared by sol-gel process. The size of the particles in the nanocomposites were estimated to be ∼15 nm with very little agglomeration. The low values of the coercivity obtained from the hysteresis measurements performed confirm that the system is superparamagnetic. SEM studies showed the cobalt ferrite films to have a nanocrystalline character, with particle sizes in the nanometer range. Hysteresis measurements performed on the thin films coated on silicon do not give evidence of the superparamagnetic transition up to room temperature and the coercivity is found to increase with decreasing film thickness. Comparison with simulations indicate that the nanocomposites behave like a strongly interacting array where exchange interactions lead to high blocking temperatures, whereas the films are representative of a semi-infinite array of magnetic clusters with weak interactions and thickness-dependent magnetic properties.     

Composition and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite nano-particles prepared by the co-precipitation method

Cobalt ferrite nano-particles were prepared using the co-precipitation method followed by annealing treatment. The formation of nano-particles with different composition, microstructure and sizes were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Raman, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis and transmission electron microscope. The magnetic hysteresis loops measured at room temperature revealed smaller effective magnetic anisotropy constant, coercivity and remanence ratio for the samples prepared by adding the NaOH solutions into the mixed solutions of Co²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions due to the formation of Co³⁺ ions. A small saturation magnetization and an enhanced coercivity were observed for the nano-particles prepared by adding the mixed solutions of Co²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions into the NaOH solutions, which was related to the formation of outer layers with poor crystallization on the surfaces of the cobalt ferrite nano-crystals. Furthermore, the existence of these outer layers induced the oxidation of Co²⁺ ions in cobalt ferrite nano-crystals at 200 and 300 °C, and led to a large change on the composition and magnetic properties.     

镨离子掺杂对SrFe12O19结构和磁性的影响

通过机械球磨和后续热处理工艺,制备了镨离子掺杂的各向同性Pr_1-xSr_xFe₁₂O₁₉磁性粉末.研究了离子掺杂浓度和退火条件对样品结构和磁性的影响.结果表明,镨离子掺杂导致单相硬磁化合物的形成温度升高.成分的改变不会影响样品的居里温度,而退火温度的升高导致居里温度略有下降.一定含量的镨掺杂可适当增加样品的矫顽力,但导致磁化强度降低.不同成分样品的磁性受退火温度影响规律不同. 关键词：     

Effect of Ag underlayer thickness on the microstructure and magnetic properties of L10-FePt films

FePt/Ag films were deposited on thermally oxidized Si(100) substrates by magnetron sputtering at room temperature and then the as-deposited films were annealed at 500 ^°C. The microstructure and magnetic properties of the films have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results indicate that introduction of the Ag underlayer promotes an ordering transformation of the FePt phase due to thermal tensile stress between the Ag underlayer and the FePt film. The in-plane tensile stress induced by the Ag underlayer should stretch the horizontal lattice parameter of FePt; thus, it is helpful for the ordering transformation. With increasing Ag underlayer thickness, the ordering parameter and coercivity first increase and then decrease. When the Ag underlayer thickness is 12 nm, the ordering parameter and coercivity of the film reach the maximum values, respectively. The Ag underlayer thickness also affects the magnetization reversal mechanism.     

Spin and orbital magnetic moments of free nanoparticles

The determination of spin and orbital magnetic moments from the free atom to the bulk phase is an intriguing challenge for nanoscience, in particular, since most magnetic recording materials are based on nanostructures. We present temperature-dependent x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements of free Co clusters (N=8-22) from which the intrinsic spin and orbital magnetic moments of noninteracting magnetic nanoparticles have been deduced. An exceptionally strong enhancement of the orbital moment is verified for free magnetic clusters which is 4-6 times larger than the bulk value. Our temperature-dependent measurements reveal that the spin orientation along the external magnetic field is nearly saturated at ~20 K and 7 T, while the orbital orientation is clearly not.     

Structure and magnetic properties of La-doped Si<Subscript>n</Subscript> (n = 1–12, 24) clusters: a density functional theory investigation

In the framework of density functional theory (DFT), the structure and magnetic properties of La-doped Si_n clusters have been systematically studied. It is found that La atom always prefers locating on the surface site of the clusters and no cage-like structures are found up to n = 12. The La atom doping remarkably enhances the stabilities of silicon clusters. In contrast to some other clusters with the magnetic moment completely quenched, La doping is shown to invariable magnetism with the total spin magnetic moment of LaSi_n clusters 1 _¼B up to n = 24, as that of a free La atom.     

Characteristics of magnetism in nanoporous carbon with palladium clusters

The magnetic properties of samples of nanoporous carbon with palladium clusters prepared from polycrystalline SiC have been studied over a wide range of temperatures. The specific magnetic moment rapidly decreases with increasing temperature. The obtained experimental magnetization curves have a nonlinear character but do not reach saturation even in a field of 10 kOe. Being constructed as functions of H/T, they lie on a universal curve, which suggests superparamagnetism of the system. The experimental curves have a hysteresis. The coercive force, first, decreases with increasing temperature and, then (in the range of 5–20 K), increases, thus forming a notch singularity. On the contrary, the residual magnetization rapidly decreases with increasing temperature. A conclusion on the prevailing contribution of superparamagnetic clusters to the magnetic subsystem is made.     

Magnetic susceptibility and magnetic-field behavior of CuB2O4 copper metaborate

An experimental study is reported regarding the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of a CuB₂O₄ tetragonal single crystal within the 4.2–200-K range. It has been established that the magnetic susceptibility exhibits anomalies at 21 and 10 K and depends strongly on crystal orientation in the magnetic field. A study has been carried out of the field dependences of the magnetization of CuB₂O₄ at various temperatures and crystal orientations. It is shown that for T>21 K, the crystal is in a paramagnetic state determined by Cu²⁺ copper ions with an effective magnetic moment of 1.77 μ_B. Within the 10–21 K interval, the field dependence of the magnetization is typical of a weak ferromagnet with magnetic moments of the two antiferromagnetically coupled sublattices lying in the tetragonal plane of the crystal. The spontaneous weakly-ferromagnetic moment is 0.56 emu/g at 10 K. The canting angle of the sublattice magnetic moments, determined by the Dzyaloshinski-Moriya interaction, is 0.49°. It is believed that below 10 K, the CuB₂O₄ crystal retains its easy-plane magnetic structure, but with a zero spontaneous magnetic moment.     

On the magnetic ordering of CeAl2

The magnetic behaviour of CeAl₂ at low temperature is not apparent : contradictory experiments have assumed either an antiferromagnetic ordering or a moment reduction of the Ce³⁺ ion. Using the multidetector D1B at the I.L.L. high flux reactor, we have measured neutron diffraction diagrams, above and below the transition temperature of 3.8 K. At 1.9 K, we have found very weak magnetic reflections corresponding to an antiferromagnetic structure sinusoǐdally modulated, according to the propagation vector (0.612, 0.388, 0.5). The moment reduction in such a modulated structure at 1.9 K can hardly be explained by a thermal partial disordering of the moments. It is rather due to the existence of a singlet ground state resulting from the negative exchange between the 4f electron of Ce³⁺ and the conduction electrons.     

Temperature dependence of exchange bias and coercivity in ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic bilayers

A model for the temperature dependence of exchange bias and coercivity in epitaxial ferromagnetic (FM)/ antiferromagnetic (AFM) bilayers is developed. In this model, the interface coupling includes two contributions, the direct coupling and the spin-flop coupling. The temperature dependence arises from the thermal disturbance to the system, involved in the thermal fluctuations of magnetization of AFM grains and the temperature modulation of the relevant magnetic parameters. In addition, the randomness of original orientations of easy axes of AFM grains after field cooling is taken into account. A self-consistent calculation scheme is proposed and numerical treatment is carried out. The results show that the temperature dependence of exchange bias and coercivity is closely related to the sizes of AFM grains and the interface exchange coupling constants. Especially, the exchange bias will have a peak and the blocking temperature will increase if the spin-flop coupling plays a role. On the other hand, the original orientation distribution of easy axes of AFM grains will affect exchange bias and coercivity prominently. The prediction has been well supported by experiments.Received: 12 May 2004, Published online: 31 August 2004PACS: 75.30.Et Exchange and superexchange interactions - 75.50.Ee Antiferromagnetics - 75.30.Gw Magnetic anisotropy