Thermal stability and the magnetization process in CoCrPt–SiO2 perpendicular recording media

The correspondence between the crystallographic texture and intergranular exchange coupling interactions, with the switching mechanism and the thermal response of the magnetization in CoCrPt–SiO₂ perpendicular recording media was investigated. Virgin hysteresis and isothermal remanence magnetization measurements both showed a three-stage process, which was interpreted to indicate that the Stoner–Wohlfarth coherent reversal mode is the dominant switching mechanism irrespective of the texture. For media samples with similar degree of texture, improvement in exchange decoupling of the media grains caused an increase in the onset field for the virgin magnetization process. The thermal decay of the magnetization, evaluated via the field-dependent viscosity coefficient peaked near the nucleation field, and the peak value showed a strong dependence on the strength of the exchange coupling interactions. A model establishing the role of the texture and exchange interactions in perpendicular recording media is put forth.     

Intermediate layer thickness dependence on switching field distribution in perpendicular recording media

The effect of intermediate layer (IL) thickness on crystallographic texture and magnetic properties of CoCrPtSiO₂ granular perpendicular recording media was investigated with switching field distribution (SFD) as the focus. Even though the c-axis orientation of the Co-based recording layer (RL) broadens with the reduction of IL thickness, the SFD becomes narrower. This result demonstrates that the intrinsic SFD is not directly dependent on c-axis orientation of the recording layer but instead dependent on the magnitude of exchange coupling. It is thus possible to have a medium with thin IL and narrow SFD. This is desirable for bit-patterned media (BPM), where highly exchange-coupled grains are required.     

Anisotropy dispersion in (CoCrPt)1−x(SiO2)x perpendicular recording media

The distribution of easy axis orientation in perpendicular media is of technological importance because it affects the value of S^* (see Fig. 1), which quantifies the switching field distribution (SFD) and hence partially determines the data density achievable on a given medium. The distribution is controlled by the crystallographic orientation of grains and factors such as intergranular exchange and dipolar coupling. Due to strong demagnetising fields in the perpendicular orientation, traditional measurements of remanence as a function of angle are difficult to interpret and have required the use of large-scale computational models. In this work we have utilised the variation of coercivity H_C with angle, which has the advantage that at H_C the global demagnetising field is zero. Additionally, since such materials follow essentially the Stoner–Wohlfarth mode of reversal, the variation of H_C with angle, H_C(θ), is much greater than that for the remanence. We find that for (CoCrPt)_1−x(SiO₂)_x, where the level of exchange coupling is controlled, the distribution of magnetic easy axes is narrower when the exchange coupling is reduced, but dipolar coupling between the grains is strong and affects the magnetisation reversal significantly.     

129Xe NMR – highly polarized thin films

We studied the macroscopic effects of nuclear magnetization. Highly polarized xenon is often used to increase the sensitivity in NMR investigations of porous media, diluted liquids or for imaging in the gas phase. In the condensed phase, however, highly nuclear spin polarized xenon also possesses a sizable magnetization due to the nuclear spin density. This results in an additional magnetic field, that is used to measure the polarization of the sample, when only the particle density is known. Here we find P_z≈0.8 corresponding to a spin temperature of 0.5 mK. We use isotopically enriched xenon with a ¹²⁹Xe abundance of 0.71. At high abundance of ¹²⁹Xe and high nuclear polarization the dipolar linewidth is considerably reduced. We find for small angle excitation a reduction from 650 Hz to 400 Hz. We investigate this using a thin film geometry. The susceptibility effects of the substrate and the Xe film are treated. The macroscopic angle between the normal of the film and the external field strongly changes the polarization induced line shift and line width. The first follows an expected cos²θ dependence with an understood amplitude the latter however is not understood up to now. Relaxation of ¹²⁹Xe in the condensed film is observed to be T₁=15±1.8 min, much faster than expected. To cite this article: P. Gerhard et al., C. R. Physique 5 (2004).     

Experimental evidence of dipolar interaction in bilayer nanocomposite magnets

We use magnetic thin film hard/non/soft-magnetic trilayer systems to probe the nature of the hard–soft phase interaction and the role played by dipolar fields in one-dimensional (d) magnetic systems. We have systematically investigated six wedge samples where the thickness of a Cu spacer layer (t _Cu) was gradually changed to create a varying interfacial effect on the interaction between a CoPt hard layer and a Fe soft layer. Magneto-optical Kerr effect was used to obtain the magnetization loops at 28 points on each sample, and the nucleation field (H _N ) as a function of t _Cu was employed to characterize the layer interaction as a function of t _Cu. H _N (t _Cu) show a RKKY oscillatory behavior in addition to a non-negligible dipolar contribution, which had an exponential dependence. The dipolar term, which cannot be always neglected, is affected by the interface roughness and also by the CoPt crystallinity. Therefore, we cannot always consider exchange coupling to be the dominant interaction in one-d hard–soft magnetic bilayer systems, particularly, during magnetic reversal.     

Variation of molecular alignment as a means of resolving orientational ambiguities in protein structures from dipolar couplings

Residual dipolar couplings for pairs of proximate magnetic nuclei in macromolecules can easily be measured using high-resolution NMR methods when the molecules are dissolved in dilute liquid crystalline media. The resulting couplings can in principle be used to constrain the relative orientation of molecular fragments in macromolecular systems to build a complete structure. However, determination of relative fragment orientations based on a single set of residual dipolar couplings is inherently hindered by the multi-valued nature of the angular dependence of the dipolar interaction. Even with unlimited dipolar data, this gives rise to a fourfold degeneracy in fragment orientations. In this Communication, we demonstrate a procedure based on an order tensor analysis that completely removes this degeneracy by combining residual dipolar coupling measurements from two alignment media. Application is demonstrated on (15)N-(1)H residual dipolar coupling data acquired on the protein zinc rubredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum dissolved in two different bicelle media.     

Dipolar interactions and origin of spin ice in ising pyrochlore magnets

Recent experiments suggest that the Ising pyrochlore magnets Ho2Ti2O7 and Dy2Ti2O7 display qualitative properties of the nearest-neighbor "spin ice" model. We discuss the dipolar energy scale present in both these materials and discuss how spin-ice behavior can occur despite the presence of long-range dipolar interactions. We present results of numerical simulations and a mean field analysis of Ising pyrochlore systems. Based on our quantitative theory, we suggest that the spin-ice behavior in these systems is due to long-range dipolar interactions, and that the nearest-neighbor exchange in Dy2Ti2O7 is antiferromagnetic.     

Measurement of the coupling strength distribution in ferromagnetic (F)/antiferromagnetic (AF) exchange bias systems

We propose a method for determination of the distribution function P(j) of the coupling energy density j in polycrystalline textured ferromagnetic (F)/antiferromagnetic (AF) film systems. P(j) governs the entire film coupling J and the exchange bias field H_e and was not measurable until now. The method is verified by torquemetry in a high magnetic field and by reversing its rotation sense. The transition to a new magnetic steady state after rotation reversal is analyzed within a Stoner–Wohlfarth model including thermal relaxation. This transition is completed earlier for strongly coupled grains than for grains with smaller j, which is reflected in the torque curves. We determined P(j) for a sputtered NiFe(16 nm)/IrMn(0.8 nm) film at T=50 K in the hysteretic range of coupling energies and found that P strongly decreases for increasing j.     

Modeling magnetization transfer using a three-pool model and physically meaningful constraints on the fitting parameters.

A model for water-macromolecular magnetization transfer is presented which addresses the mechanism of coupling between the hydrogen populations and the extraction of physically meaningful parameters from experimental magnetization transfer data. Both physical exchange between bulk-solvent and site-specific hydration-layer hydrogens and intermolecular magnetic dipolar coupling between these specific hydration-layer-solvent and macromolecular hydrogens are explicitly included, leading to a three-pool model for magnetization transfer. It is shown that the three-pool model is well approximated by a two-pool model for coupling between the bulk-solvent and macromolecular hydrogens when the dipolar-coupled solvent hydrogens are a small fraction of the total solvent, and the solvent-macromolecular coupling constant includes both dipolar magnetic, kappa(dip), and physical exchange, kappa(ex), coupling rates. The model is also extended to multiple solvent systems. The model results in a set of coupled equations that predict magnetization transfer spectra as a function of temperature and composition. Physically meaningful constraints on the coupling and relaxation parameters are established for systems in which magnetization transfer has been observed including solvated cross-linked proteins and lipid bilayers. Using parameter estimates based on these constraints, empirical magnetization transfer spectra are well predicted by the model. It is found that the degree of magnetization transfer becomes independent of kappa(dip) and kappa(ex) when these parameters become greater than about 50 s(-1). In the semi-rigid cross-linked protein systems where the mobility of the macromolecular matrix is insensitive to temperature, the magnitude of the observed magnetization transfer is consistent with being limited by the intermolecular dipolar coupling and spin-lattice relaxation in the bulk-solvent phase.     

Transition order and dynamics of a model with competing exchange and dipolar interactions

We performed Monte Carlo simulation of phase transitions from isotropic stripe phase with short-range order to long-range stripe phase in a model with competing ferromagnetic exchange and antiferromagnetic dipolar interactions on triangular lattice. We calculated phase diagram for different values of exchange and dipolar interaction constants ratio, η. We also determined the order of the transitions to stripe phases AFh of different stripe widths h: first-order phase transition was found to transitions into AF1 and AF2 phases, while transitions to AF3 and AF4 phases were of the second order. In the phase diagram the tricritical point was determined at the AF2 and AF3 phase boundary. We observed the peak of nematic phase at the transition region to the AF1 phase, but found it metastable at low values of η. We have also found that in AF1 phase spin relaxation corresponds to the Ising model dynamics. In phases AF3 and AF4 the dynamics slows down, and stripe domain growth with time is proportional to logt.     

A new paradigm for exchange bias in polycrystalline thin films

In this paper we provide a review and overview of a series of works generated in our laboratory over the last 5 years. These works have described the development and evolution of a new paradigm for exchange bias in polycrystalline thin films with grain sizes in the range 5-15 nm. We have shown that the individual grains in the antiferromagnetic (AF) layer of exchange bias systems contain a single AF domain and reverse over an energy barrier which is grain volume dependent. We show that the AF grains are not coupled to each other and behave independently. Understanding this process and using designed measurement protocols has enabled us to determine unambiguously the blocking temperature distribution of the AF grains, the anisotropy constant (K_AF) of the AF, understand the AF grain-setting process, and predict its magnetic viscosity. We can explain and predict the grain size and film thickness dependence of the exchange field H_ex. We have also studied interfacial effects and shown that there are processes at the interface, which can occur independently of the bulk of the AF grains. We have seen these effects via studies of trilayers and also via the field dependence of the setting process which does not affect the blocking. From separate experiments we have shown that the disordered interfacial spins exist as spin clusters analogous to a spin glass. These clusters can order spontaneously at low temperatures or can be ordered by the setting field. We believe it is the degree of order of the interfacial spins that gives rise to the coercivity in exchange bias systems. Based on this new understanding of the behaviour of the bulk of the grains in the antiferromagnet and the interfacial spins we believe that we have now a new paradigm for the phenomenon of exchange bias in sputtered polycrystalline thin films. We emphasize that the phenomenological model does not apply to core-shell particles, epitaxial single-crystal films and large grain polycrystalline films.     

Graphical analysis of the relative orientation of molecular alignment tensors for a protein dissolved in two different anisotropic media

In order to determine precise three-dimensional structures of proteins by residual dipolar coupling constants as the major or even exclusive structural constraints, it is essential to use two anisotropic media. In doing so, a reliable and versatile method for estimating the relative orientation of the alignment tensors for the molecules dissolved in different anisotropic media is required. In this communication, we present a new graphical approach for this purpose, which does not require structural information of the target molecules. The correlation map for the two independent data sets of residual dipolar coupling constants, which can be obtained for the molecules in different anisotropic media, strongly depends on the relative orientation of the alignment tensors. We have simulated the correlation maps for all possible combinations of the Euler angles, which transform one alignment tensor to the other, and compared them to the experimental data sets reported for labeled human ubiquitin. This simple graphical method affords a useful starting point for the structural determinations using residual dipolar couplings.     

Magnetic interactions and media noise in rigid disks

This paper discusses the relationship between media-noise and magnetic properties. Two topics in longitudinal barium ferrite (Ba-ferrite) particulate rigid disks are mainly investigated; the relationship between media-noise characteristics and interparticle magnetic interactions, and the particle-size effect in read/write properties. For the first topic, a series of longitudinal Ba-ferrite disks with a variation in volumetric particle-packing densities are investigated. The magnetomotive force dependences or reverse DC-erase noise are measured and compared with interaction field factor. For the second topic, the particle-size effect in read/write properties of Ba-ferrite particulate disks are described compared with the those of Co–γFe₂O₃ particulate disks. The magnetic interactions in Ba-ferrite disks consist of two mechanisms: the interparticle positive interactions in stacks of Ba-ferrite particles, and the negative interactions between the stacks in which the magnetic moments of the Ba-ferrite platelet particles are aligned in the stack direction. H_c and switching field distribution values depend on interparticle interactions and extra stack-like particle interactions. Media noise depends on particle size. These ideas are effective for thin film media without exchange of magnetic interactions.     

Model for domain wall avalanches in ferromagnetic thin films

The Barkhausen jumps or avalanches in magnetic domain-walls motion between successive pinned configurations, due the competition among magnetic external driving force and substrum quenched disorder, appear in bulk materials and thin films. We introduce a model based in rules for the domain wall evolution of ferromagnetic media with exchange or short-range interactions, that include disorder and driving force effects. We simulate in 2-dimensions with Monte Carlo dynamics, calculate numerically distributions of sizes and durations of the jumps and find power-law critical behavior. The avalanche-size exponent is in excellent agreement with experimental results for thin films and is close to predictions of the other models, such as like random-field and random-bond disorder, or functional renormalization group. The model allows us to review current issues in the study of avalanches motion of the magnetic domain walls in thin films with ferromagnetic interactions and opens a new approach to describe these materials with dipolar or long-range interactions.     

Extracting intergranular exchange coupling in perpendicular magnetic recording media

A micromagnetic numerical technique has been used to demonstrate how intergranular exchange coupling and intrinsic anisotropy field dispersion can be extracted from measuring two types of M-H curves. A realistic grain configuration formed by planar Voronoi cells is used to simulate perpendicular magnetic media. This technique effectively separates the effects of intergranular exchange coupling and anisotropy dispersion by finding their correlation to differentiated M-H curves with different initial magnetization states, even in the presence of thermal fluctuation. The validity of this method is investigated with a series of intergranular exchange couplings and anisotropy dispersions for different media thickness. A relationship between the auto-correlation function of an ac-erased sample and dispersion of the exchange interaction is demonstrated. Utilizing magnetization auto-correlation functions, the magnetic intergranular exchange coupling statistics show a correlation with the auto-correlation function shape in terms of zero-cross and undershoot values.     

Measurement of thin film parameters using substrate excitation of leaky modes

Using substrate excitation achieved by prism coupling into the substrate, thin film leaky mode m-lines can be measured and the thickness and refractive index determined, without pressure applied to the film.     

Effects of array arrangements in nano-patterned thin film media

In this work, the effect of different arrays arrangements on the magnetic behaviour of patterned thin film media is simulated. The modeled films consist of 80×80 cobalt grains of uniform diameter (20 nm) distributed into two different array arrangement: hexagonal (triangular) or square arrays. In addition to that, for each array arrangement, two cases of anisotropy orientations, random and textured films are considered. For both array arrangements and media orientations, hysteresis loops at different array separation (d) were simulated. Predictions show that for closely packed films, the shearing effects on the magnetization loop are much larger for the square array arrangement than the hexagonal one. According to these predictions, the bit switching field distribution in interacting 2D systems is much narrower for the hexagonal array arrangement. This result could be very important for high-density magnetic recording where a narrow bit switching field distribution is required.     

Brillouin light scattering from spin waves in magnetic layers and multilayers

We give an overview on our experimental and theoretical investigations of Brillouin light scattering in magnetic thin films, layered magnetic structures and superlattices. For epitaxial Fe(1 10) layers on W(1 10) the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic surface anisotropy constants are determined, and the influence of Pd overlayers on the surface anisotropies is studied. For Fe/Pd superlattices a magnetic polarization of the Pd at the interfaces is established and the interface anisotropy constant is determined. For second order Fe/Pd superlattices, formed by alternating two Fe/Pd bilayers with different repeat periods, the Brillouin spectrum is obtained and compared to calculations. In the case of magnetic/nonmagnetic multilayered structures we investigate theoretically the crossing regime between dipolar and exchange-dominated modes. For small spacer-layer thicknesses, interlayer exchange coupling shifts the spin-wave frequencies of all but the highest-frequency dipolar mode into the exchange-mode regime. In case of all-magnetic multilayered structures, such as Fe/Ni multilayers, a new type of propagating collective excitations arising from coupled exchange modes is predicted.