Exchange interaction effect of TbCo/FePt bilayers

Interlayer exchange coupling in dc-magnetron sputtered Tb_29.6Co_70.4/FePt bilayers with different annealing temperatures of the FePt film have been investigated. The dependence of ordering degree on perpendicular magnetic properties of the FePt film was studied. The Tb_29.6Co_70.4/FePt film has high perpendicular coercivity and high saturated magnetization about 7.5 kOe, and 302 emu/cm³, respectively as the substrate temperature is 500 °C and annealing at 500 °C for 30 min. It also shows a strong exchange coupling between this FePt layer and Tb_29.6Co_70.4 layer. We also examined the interface wall energy in the exchange coupled Tb_29.6Co_70.4/FePt double layers.     

Phase segregation and exchange biasing in TbFeCo films with perpendicular anisotropy

A TbFeCo film was deposited by DC magnetron sputtering and studied by transmission electron microscopy, polar and longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effect, and magnetometry measurements. Transmission electron microscopy has shown the existence of lateral compositional inhomogeneity. Magneto-optical measurements have shown that the initial layer at the bottom consists of only magnetic perpendicular component and the top surface layer has a compositional inhomogeneity and consists of in-plane components and perpendicular one. The perpendicular components in the bottom and the surface layers have identical composition. Two in-plane components have been shown by magnetometry measurements. It is shown that phase segregation exists in the TbFeCo film and possible form of compositional inhomogeneity has been discussed. The two in-plane components are exchange coupled with a magnetization off-alignment of 35°. For the soft in-plane component, the in-plane and out-of-plane angular dependence of the exchange biasing is similar to those of the conventional one. Within temperatures from 100 to 300 K, the exchange field and the coercivity are both linear functions of temperature.     

Effect of carbon mixing on the perpendicular magnetization of [FePt/C]n=4/FePt multilayer nanocomposite films

The effect of carbon mixing on the perpendicular magnetization of magnetron sputtered FePt thin films was studied using magnetic property measurement, X-ray diffraction, and TEM microscopy. Micromagnetic simulation was carried out to study the effect of texture on the perpendicular coercivity. Unlike general conviction, the mixing of FePt with carbon led to a significant enhancement in the perpendicular magnetization. The maximum enhancement of perpendicular magnetization was observed at about 20 vol% of carbon, where carbon amorphous film started to completely enclose the individual FePt grains. This reason was explained that the epitaxial growth and thus perpendicular texture of ordered FePt grains were maximized due to the relaxation of coherency for epitaxial growth which was maximized in the isolated grains. The perpendicular coercivity reached 8500 Oe, while the in-plane coercivity (120 Oe) remained negligible. The simulation showed that the enhancement of perpendicular texture can largely increase the perpendicular coercivity of FePt:C thin film.     

Critical Fe thickness for effective coercivity reduction in FePt/Fe exchange-coupled bilayer

FePt/Fe perpendicular exchange-coupled bilayers with different Fe thicknesses were prepared to study the exchange coupling effect and the magnetization switching mechanism. An Fe thickness of 3 nm was found to be the critical point where the coercivity reduction became saturated and had the largest thermal stability gain factor of 2.25. This thickness was close to the exchange length between the magnetically hard and soft layers. Within the exchange length the soft phase strongly coupled to the hard phase and the magnetization of the bilayer processed single switching; beyond the exchange length reversible magnetization increased with the Fe thickness and exchange spring effect was found. Our simulation results also revealed that the exchange length was the critical Fe thickness for effective coercivity reduction and for maintaining high remanence.     

利用FePt/Au多层膜结构制备垂直磁记录L10-FePt薄膜

利用磁控溅射方法在100℃的MgO单晶基片上制备了［FePt/Au］₁₀多层膜,并研究了采用FePt/Au多层膜结构对FePt薄膜的有序化温度、矫顽力（H_C）、垂直磁各向异性、晶粒尺寸以及颗粒间磁交换耦合作用的影响.磁性测试结果表明：FePt/Au多层膜在退火后具有较高的H_C、良好的垂直磁各向异性、较小的晶粒尺寸且无磁交换耦合作用.截面高分辨电镜分析表明：Au可以缓解MgO和FePt之间较大的晶格错配,从而促进薄 关键词： 0-FePt薄膜')" href="#">L1₀-FePt薄膜 有序化温度 垂直磁各向异性 磁交换耦合作用     

GdFeCo/TbFeCo磁超分辨磁光记录薄膜研究

用磁控溅射法制备了GdFeCo/TbFeCo交换耦合两层薄膜,利用不同温度的克尔磁滞回线和VSM磁滞回线研究了读出层(GdFeCo)变温磁化方向变化过程.结果表明,随温度升高读出层从平面磁化转变为垂直磁化,交换耦合两层薄膜具有中心孔探测磁超分辨的基本性能.转变过程主要受饱和磁化强度（M_s）的影响,在GdFeCo的补偿温度附近,读出层的磁化强度较小,退磁场能也较小,在交换耦合的作用下,使读出层(GdFeCo)的磁化方向发生转变.磁化方向的转变在75℃~125℃的温度范围内变化较快.     

Influence of Fe cap layer on the structural and magnetic properties of Fe49Pt51/Fe bi-layers

The influences of an Fe cap layer on the structural and magnetic properties of FePt/Fe bi-layers are investigated. Compared with single FePt alloy films, a thin Fe layer can affect the crystalline orientation and improve the chemical ordering of L10 FePt films. Moreover, the coercivity increases when a thin Fe layer covers the FePt layer.Beyond a critical thickness, however, the Fe cover layer quickens the magnetization reversal of Fe49Pt51/Fe bi-layers by their exchange coupling.     

正交各向异性双层交换弹簧薄膜的磁矩分布

本文以Pt_(84)Co_(16)/TbFeCo双层交换弹簧体系为研究对象,利用微磁学连续模型,研究了软/硬磁层易轴方向相互垂直的新型体系中磁矩的分布特征.研究结果表明,磁矩偏离薄膜法线方向的角度在软磁层中沿膜厚方向的变化速率比硬磁层中的快.通过调节软磁层参数来增加软/硬磁的各向异性常数比、交换能常数比、饱和磁化强度比或外磁场强度,都可有效改变磁矩偏角在软/硬磁层中的变化速率.特别是当软/硬磁各向异性常数比值和交换能常数比值同时增大时,可以使得磁矩在硬磁层中的变化速率快于软磁层中的.而饱和磁化强度比值对磁矩变化速率的影响源于饱和磁化强度的变化会相应地改变各向异性常数,进而改变磁矩在软/硬磁层中磁矩方向变化速率的比值.此体系的磁滞回线显示磁性参数的改变可以显著改变体系的剩磁及饱和磁场.软磁层中的退磁场能及体系的正交各向异性可导致负的成核场.     

Structure and property changes and femtosecond laser-induced magnetization dynamics of two-year-old high coercive TbFeCo films

An uncoated TbFeCo film on glass substrate exposed to dry air for 2 years is studied using magneto-optical polar Kerr spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The out-of-plane hysteresis loop by VSM is found to become slanted and meanwhile, an in-plane loop is also observable. The Kerr loop measured from the exposed surface is also slanted compared to that measured from the substrate-contacted surface, which indicates that the exposed surface is oxidized. So a bilayer structure of the film is proposed. When a pump laser is switched on, the Kerr loops measured from both surfaces at the delay time of −5 ps become anomalous, showing the occurrence of magnetization reversal across magnetization compensation temperature. Unlike that measured from the substrate-contacted surface, femtosecond laser-induced magnetization dynamics measured from the exposed surface does not show magnetization reversal crossing zero magnetization. This can be explained by the bilayer structure as the compensation effect of demagnetization recovery of the oxidized layer on magnetization reversal of perpendicularly anisotropic TbFeCo layer across magnetization compensation temperature. Above experimental results show that the uncoated TbFeCo film cannot resist oxidation in dry air at room temperature for 2 years while the SiO₂-coated surface can do so for over 2 years.     

Effect of annealing in an external magnetic field on the microstructure and magnetic properties of the Fe/FePt/Pt multilayer system

The effect of annealing in an external magnetic field applied perpendicular to the plane of the film on the kinetics of Ll ₀ phase transformation of the microstructure and the magnetic properties of the Fe(2 nm)/FePt(20 nm)/Pt(2 nm) multilayer system has been investigated. The relations between the hysteresis loop shape, magnetic correlation length, and structural disorders, which are characteristic of magnetic information carriers, have been analyzed. It has been found that the annealing of the Fe(2 nm)/FePt(20 nm)/Pt(2 nm) multilayer system at a temperature of 470°C in an external magnetic field of 3500 Oe, which is applied perpendicular to the film plane, leads to the formation of a face-centered tetragonal structure of the Ll ₀ phase in the FePt film, which is characterized by the high coercivity H _c , the (001) preferred texture, the magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the film plane, small sizes of FePt grains in the film, and weak exchange coupling between the particles. The energy of the external magnetic field encourages the process of transformation of the FePt film into the Ll ₀ phase. Thus, a method has been developed for fabricating multilayer films based on the FePt Ll ₀ phase with the parameters necessary for information carrier materials with perpendicular-type magnetic recording.     

Magnetization reversal in a preferred oriented (111) L1(0) FePt grown on a soft magnetic metallic glass for tilted magnetic recording

L1(0) FePt is an important material for the fabrication of high density perpendicular recording media, but the ultrahigh coercivity of L1(0) FePt restricts its use. Tilting of the magnetic easy axis and the introduction of a soft magnetic underlayer can solve this problem. However, high temperature processing and the requirement of epitaxial growth conditions for obtaining an L1(0) FePt phase are the main hurdles to be overcome. Here, we introduce a bilayered magnetic structure ((111) L1(0) FePt/glassy Fe(71)Nb(4)Hf(3)Y(2)B(20)/SiO(2)/Si) in which the magnetic easy axis of L1(0) FePt is tilted by ~36° from the film plane and epitaxial growth conditions are not required. The soft magnetic underlayer not only promotes the growth of L1(0) FePt with the preferred orientation but also provides an easy cost-effective micro/nanopatterning of recording bits. A detailed magnetic characterization of the bilayered structure in which the thickness of (111) L1(0) FePt with the soft magnetic Fe(71)Nb(4)Hf(3)Y(2)B(20) glassy underlayer varied from 5 to 60 nm is carried out in an effort to understand the magnetization switching mechanism. The magnetization switching behavior is almost the same for bilayered structures in which FePt layer thickness is >10 nm (greater than the domain wall thickness of FePt). For FePt film ~10 nm thick, magnetization reversal takes place in a very narrow field range. Magnetization reversal first takes place in the soft magnetic underlayer. On further increase in the reverse magnetic field, the domain wall in the soft magnetic layer compresses at the interface of the hard and soft layers. Once the domain wall energy becomes sufficiently large to overcome the nucleation energy of the domain wall in L1(0) FePt, the magnetization of the whole bilayer is reversed. This process takes place quickly because the domain walls in the hard layer do not need to move, and the formation of a narrower domain wall may not be favorable energetically. Our results showed that the present bilayered structure is very promising for the fabrication of tilted bit-patterned magnetic recording media.     

GdFeCo/AlN/TbFeCo薄膜的变温磁化性能研究

用磁控溅射法制备了GdFeCo/AlN/TbFeCo静磁耦合多层薄膜。振动样品磁强计和克尔磁滞回线测试装置的测试结果表明 :2 5℃不加外磁场时GdFeCo/AlN/TbFeCo静磁耦合多层薄膜读出层 (GdFeCo)的极向克尔角为零 ,读出层呈平面磁化 ;12 5℃不加外场时读出层的克尔角最大 (0 .5 4°) ,读出层的磁化方向为垂直磁化 ;随着温度增高 ,读出层由平面磁化转变为垂直磁化 ,在 75℃到 12 5℃温度范围内读出层磁化方向很快从平面磁化转变为垂直磁化。对磁化过程的机理研究表明 :饱和磁化强度和有效各向异性常量影响读出层磁化方向的转变过程 ,但主要受读出层饱和磁化强度的影响 ;在较高温度时读出层的磁化强度较小 ,退磁场能较小 ,在静磁耦合作用下 ,使GdFeCo读出层的磁化方向发生转变。制备的GdFeCo/AlN/TbFeCo静磁耦合多层薄膜适合作CAD MSR记录介质     

垂直取向FePt/Ag纳米颗粒薄膜的结构和磁性

用磁控溅射法在单晶MgO(100)基片上制备了［FePt 2 nm/Ag dnm］₁₀多层膜， 经真空热处理后，得到具有高矫顽力的垂直取向L1₀-FePt/Ag颗粒膜.x射线衍射结 果表明，在250 ℃的热基片上溅射，当Ag层厚度d=3—11 nm时，FePt颗粒具有很好的［001］取向，随着Ag层厚度的增加，FePt颗粒尺寸减小.［FePt 2 nm/Ag 9 nm］₁₀经过6 00 ℃真空热处理15 min后，颗粒大小仅约8 nm，垂直矫顽力达到692 kA/m.这种无磁耦合作用的颗粒膜，适合用作超高密度的垂直磁记录介质. 关键词： 磁控溅射 垂直磁记录 纳米颗粒膜 0-FePt/Ag')" href="#">L1₀-FePt/Ag     

Magnetization reversal in perpendicular exchange-biased multilayers

Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy exhibit an exchange bias when covered with an IrMn layer. The exchange bias field, which is about 7 mT for 3 Co/Pt bilayer repetitions and a Co layer thickness of 5 Å, can be increased up to 16.5 mT by the insertion of a thin Pt layer at the Co/IrMn interface. The interfacial magnetic anisotropy of the Co/IrMn interface (KSCo/IrMn =-0.09 mJ/m2) favours in-plane magnetization and tends to tilt the Co spins away from the film normal. Dynamical measurements of the magnetization reversal process reveal that both thermally activated spin reversal in the IrMn layer and domain wall nucleation in the Co/Pt multilayer influence the interfacial spin structure and therefore the strength of the perpendicular exchange bias field.     

Nanocomposite L10 FePt–SiNx and FePt–SiNx–C films with large coercivity and small grain size on a TiN intermediate layer

FePt–SiN_x–C films with high coercivity, (001) texture and small grain size were obtained by co-sputtering FePt, Si₃N₄ and C on TiN/CrRu/glass substrate at 380 °C. Without C doping, FePt–SiN_x films with good perpendicular anisotropy and a single layer structure were obtained. However, the grain size was still too large and the grain isolation was poor. When C was doped into the FePt–SiN_x films, the out-of-plane coercivity increased due to the decrease of the exchange coupling. In addition, the grain size of the FePt films decreased, and well-separated FePt grains with uniform size were formed. The microstructure of [FePt–SiN_x 40 vol%]−20 vol% C films changed from a single layer structure to a multiple layer structure when the FePt thickness was increased from 4 to 10 nm. By optimizing the sputtering process, the [FePt (4 nm)–SiN_x 40 vol%]−20 vol% C (001) film with coercivity higher than 21.5 kOe, a single layer structure, and small average FePt grain size of 5.6 nm was obtained, which makes it suitable for ultrahigh density perpendicular recording.     

(0 0 1) Exchange-coupled FCC/L10 FePt bilayers

Exchange coupling between hard and soft magnetic materials has implications for both permanent magnet and magnetic recording technologies. This paper looks at exchange coupling of FCC FePt epitaxially grown onto (0 0 1) oriented L1₀ FePt deposited on (0 0 1) MgO substrates at elevated temperature. By varying the thickness of the FCC layer there is a relaxation of the single crystal FCC layer that produces a polycrystalline microstructure as evidenced by the development of rings in the electron diffraction pattern. A concurrent decoupling of the layers is apparent from magnetization curves with two distinct switching fields as the FCC layer thickness is increased above 20 nm. The results shown here confirm the importance of the epitaxial relationship between materials of disparate anisotropies in maintaining strong exchange coupling.     

TiN underlayer and overlayer for TbFeCo perpendicular magnetic recording media

TiN thin film is prepared by DC reactive sputtering in Ar+N₂ atmosphere and its suitability as underlayer and overlayer for TbFeCo perpendicular recording media as well as its effect on the magnetic properties of the latter have been studied. Only 5 nm TiN overlayer and 20 nm under layer can successfully protect the TbFeCo film from oxidation. Initially the coercivity is increased sharply from about 2 to 6 kOe for an increase of underlayer thickness to 60 nm then the increasing rate of coercivity becomes very slow. The saturation magnetization remains almost constant with the underlayer thickness. The remanent squareness ratio remains constant at 1.0 with the underlayer thickness up to 60 nm then decreases.     

Exchange-spring magnets based on L10-FePt ordered phase

Thin bi-layers constituted by a hard L1₀-FePt layer and a soft Fe layer were obtained using respectively an rf sputtering device and an UHV e-beam evaporation technique. Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect magnetometry, Atomic/Magnetic Force Microscopy and Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy were used in order to correlate the magnetic properties of the bi-layers with the effects of the interdiffusion at the interfaces. It has been found that the evaporated Fe can easily diffuse into the hard film, giving raise to the formation of a region containing small particles of both Fe and Fe-rich FePt which show a superparamagnetic behaviour. The ferromagnetic Fe film can grow only on this region. The system shows (i) a preferred orientation of the easy magnetization axis along the direction normal to the film plane, and (ii) a single-phase magnetic behaviour due to the strong exchange coupling which established between the constituent phases.     

Microstructure and magnetic properties of nanocomposite FePt/MgO and FePt/Ag films

An in-plane magnetic anisotropy of FePt film is obtained in the MgO 5 nm/FePt t nm/MgO 5 nm films (where t=5, 10 and 20 nm). Both the in-plane coercivity (H_c∥) and the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of FePt films are increased when introducing an Ag-capped layer instead of MgO-capped layer. An in-plane coercivity is 3154 Oe for the MgO 5 nm/FePt 10 nm/MgO 5 nm film, and it can be increased to 4846 Oe as a 5 nm Ag-capped layer instead of MgO-capped layer. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-energy disperse spectrum (EDS) analysis shows that the Ag mainly distributed at the grain boundary of FePt, that leads the increase of the grain boundary energy, which will enhance coercivity and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of FePt film.     

Influence of thickness on current-induced magnetization switching in L1_0-FePt single layer

The thickness dependent spin–orbit torque(SOT) in an L1_0-Fe Pt single layer is investigated in this work. As the thickness increases from 8 nm to 16 nm, the magnetization switching ratio in the L1_0-Fe Pt film with higher chemical ordering becomes smaller. It is noted that compared with 3-nm-thick L1_0-Fe Pt film, 8-nm-thick L1_0-Fe Pt film can switch much magnetization with the increase of chemical ordering. When the Fe Pt film is thick enough, the SOT in Fe Pt is closely related to the L1_0-ordered structure, which indicates a bulk nature. Therefore, the disordering plays an important role in the magnetization switching only for the ultra-thin Fe Pt films, while the structural gradient may play an important role for thicker films. However, both of the two mechanisms cannot fully explain the process of magnetization switching and the spin current generation. Although many factors influence SOT, here in this work we emphasize only the bulk nature of strong SOC in L1_0-Fe Pt through density functional theory calculations, which should generate large spin current due to spin Hall effect.