Magnetization reversal dynamics in Au/Co/Au(111) ultrathin films: Effect of roughness of the buffer layer

We present a study of the magnetization reversal dynamics in ultrathin Au/Co/Au films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, for a Co thickness of 0.5, 0.7 and 1 nm. In these films, the magnetization reversal is dominated by domain nucleation for t_Co=0.5, 0.7 nm and by domain wall propagation for t_Co=1 nm. The prevalence of domain nucleation for the thickness range 0.5-0.7 nm is different from results reported in the literature, for the same system and for the same thickness range, where the magnetization reversal took place mainly by domain wall motion. We attribute this difference to the effect of roughness of the Au buffer layer on the morphology of the magnetic layer.     

Asymmetric domain nucleation and unusual magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films with perpendicular anisotropy

We report unexpected phenomena during magnetization reversal in ultrathin Co films and Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy. Using magneto-optical Kerr microscopy and magnetic force microscopy we have observed asymmetrical nucleation centers where the reversal begins for one direction of the field only and is characterized by an acute asymmetry of domain-wall mobility. We have also observed magnetic domains with a continuously varying average magnetization, which can be explained in terms of the coexistence of three magnetic phases: up, down, and striped.     

Microscopic origin of asymmetric magnetization reversal of Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

We have comprehensively investigated asymmetric magnetization reversal behaviors of (x-Å Co/7.7 Å Pt)₅ multilayers (x = 3.1 and 4.7) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Our direct observation of magnetic domain structures by means of magneto-optical microscopy reveals that the asymmetry arises both from nucleation and wall-motion processes. An asymmetric nucleation behavior is observed, which could be originated from the preexisting non-reversed domains which might have a reproducible or random spatial distribution, controllable by tuning the field profile. An asymmetric wall-motion behavior stemming from asymmetric stripe domain evolution is also observed.     

Influence of Pt thickness on magnetization reversal processes in (Pt/Co)3 multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy

We present a detailed study of the magnetization reversal in perpendicularly magnetized (Pt/Co)₃ multilayers with different values of the platinum interlayer thickness t_Pt. To study the magnetization reversal in our samples we combined measurements of relaxation curves with the direct visualization of domain structures. Magnetization reversal was dominated by domain wall propagation for t_Pt=1 nm and by domain nucleation for t_Pt=0.2 nm, while a mixed process was observed for t_Pt=0.8 nm. We interpret our results within the framework of a model of thermally activated reversal where a distribution of activation energy barriers is taken into account. The reversal process was correlated with the energy barrier distribution.     

Analysis of checkerboard pattern in ultrathin magnetic films

We discuss the magnetostatic energy of checkerboard domain structures in ultrathin magnetic films (of a few monolayer thickness) and in an atomic monolayer using simple magnetostatic considerations where the easy direction of magnetization is perpendicular to the film. The checkerboard domain size, D, the domain-wall width, ω, the ratio f of the uniaxial surface anisotropy, K_s, to the dipolar energy and the binding energy, (BE), have been calculated numerically with the variational parameter δ and the number of atomic layers, n_l, as parameters.     

Magnetic domain wall creep in the presence of an effective interlayer coupling field

We investigate thermally activated domain wall creep in a system consisting of two ultrathin Co layers with perpendicular anisotropy coupled antiferromagnetically through a 4 nm thick Pt spacer layer. The field driven dynamics of domain walls in the softer Co layer have been measured while keeping the harder Co layer negatively saturated. The effect of the interlayer interaction on the soft layer is interpreted in terms of an effective coupling field, _HJ$H_J$, which results in an asymmetry between the domain wall speeds measured under positive and negative driving fields. We show that creep theory remains valid to describe the observed wall motion when the effective coupling field is included in the creep velocity law as a component of the total field acting on the wall. Using the resultant modified creep expression, we determine a value for the effective coupling field which is consistent with that measured from the shift of the soft layer's minor hysteresis loop. The net antiferromagnetic coupling is attributed to a combination of RKKY and orange-peel coupling.     

Anomalous magnetization processes and non-symmetrical domain wall displacements in L10 FePt particulate films

Anomalous magnetization processes and non-symmetrical domain wall displacements in the minor loop of L1₀ FePt particulate films were investigated by magnetization measurements and in situ magnetic force microscopy. Magnetization (M) decreases dramatically on increasing the magnetic field to ∼3 kOe after which M becomes small and constant in the range of 5–20 kOe as observed in the successive measurement of minor loops. The domain wall displacement is non-symmetrical with respect to the field direction. The anomalous magnetization behavior was attributed to the non-symmetrical domain wall displacement and large magnetic field required for domain wall nucleation. Energy calculations from modeling suggest that non-symmetrical domain wall displacement is caused by the existence of metastable domains in which the domain edges are stuck to the particle boundaries.     

Temperature dependence of magnetic stripe domain period in ultrathin films

In ultrathin films, due to the thermal activation and temperature dependencies of the magnetic parameters, magnetization reversal processes are strongly affected by thermal effects. We analyze changes of domain periods of ultrathin cobalt and L₁₀$\mathrm{L}{1}_0$ films in a wide temperature range. With regard to the temperature dependencies of the film magnetic parameters we calculate the equilibrium stripe period as a function of temperature. It is shown that on film heating the equilibrium domain structure (DS) period decreases and at the reorientation phase transition (RPT) approaches its minimal value corresponding to the temperature independent period of the sinusoidal domain structure. Just below the RPT temperature (or thickness) the stripe domain period was found to exponentially decrease with temperature. Irreversible temperature changes of the domain period affected by coercivity are also discussed.     

Preparation,characterization and magneto-optical investigations of electrodeposited Co/Au films

Au/Co(4–8 ML)/Au single magnetic layers and Au(8 ML)/Co(4 ML)/Au(8 ML)/Co(8 ML)/Au bilayer were sequentially grown by electrodeposition on an Au(1 1 1) buffer layer electrodeposited on Si(1 1 1). The technique used in this work provides full control on the structure and the chemical composition of the different layers (no alloying) as well as on the chemistry at interfaces. scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging and X-ray diffraction measurements show that atomically flat continuous Co(0 0 0 1) layers (4–8 ML) can be grown in epitaxy with the Au(1 1 1) substrate and that the 2 nm-thick spacer is also a continuous Au(1 1 1) layer. The Co ultrathin layers (4 and 8 ML) exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The lateral magnetic homogeneity and magnetization reversal process have been investigated by scanning magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) magnetometry and global Kerr microscopy. The correlation between magnetization switching behaviour in each layer of the Co-bilayer stack has been evidenced from in-depth sensitive MOKE measurements and microscopy. The strong coupling observed between the two Co layers is attributed to magnetostatic interaction at domain wall boundaries.     

Effect of Co underlayer on soft magnetic properties and microstructure of FeCo thin films

High saturation magnetization soft magnetic FeCo (=Fe₆₅Co₃₅) films were prepared using a thin Co underlayer. The FeCo/Co films exhibited a well-defined in-plane uniaxial anisotropy with easy axis coercivity (H_ce) of 10 Oe and hard axis coercivity (H_ch) of 3 Oe, and a half reduction of H_c with H_ce=4.8 Oe and H_ch=1.0 Oe was obtained when the composition was adjusted to 25 at% Co. The effective permeability of the films remains flat around 250 to 800 MHz. The saturation magnetostriction was 5.2×10⁻⁵ and the intrinsic stress was 0.8 GPa in FeCo single layer, both were slightly reduced by Co underlayer. The Co underlayer changed the preferred orientation of the FeCo films from (2 0 0) to (1 1 0) but more significantly, reduced the average grain size from ∼74 to ∼8.2 nm. It also reduced the surface roughness from 2.351 to 0.751 nm. The initial stage and interface diffusion properties were examined by TEM and XPS.     

Influence of heat treatment on the structure and magnetic properties of the Co/Zr and Co/Hf multilayer amorphous films

The influence of annealing on the structure and magnetic properties of amorphous Co/Zr and Co/Hf multilayer films was studied with particular attention to the dependence of the magnetic properties, thermal stability and crystallization process on layer composition and thickness. The temperature at which crystallization commences increases from 400 to 460 °C as the layer thickness d_Zr or d_Hf increases from 6 to 18 Å, and decreases from 450 to 400 °C as d_Co increases from 12 to 18 Å. Multilayers containing 19–60 at% Zr were studied. The specific magnetization was found to increase even below the temperature at which crystallization commences. Our data are compared with non-multilayer Co–Zr amorphous films and rapidly quenched metallic glasses.     

Domain morphology in ultrathin ferromagnetic films with perpendicular magnetization

We determine the minimal domain structure for the equilibrium thickness of stripes as well as for the minimal energy of the domain configuration in ultrathin films of ferromagnetically coupled spins, where the easy direction of magnetization is perpendicular to the film. It is found that the equilibrium thickness of stripes and walls depend on the exchange energy. The normalized anisotropy, f, depends on interplay between the magnetic and anisotropy energies and is almost independent of the exchange energy inside the wall. The results are compared with the experimental data for thin Ag/Fe/Ag (0 0 1) films and a good coincidence is obtained between both results.     

Domain wall dynamics and interlayer interactions in magnetic trilayer systems studied by XMCD-PEEM

We have used time-resolved x-ray magnetic circular dichroism combined with photoemission electron microscopy (XMCD-PEEM) to investigate the layer-resolved microscopic magnetization reversal in FeNi/X/Co (with X=Cu, Al₂O₃) trilayer systems. These measurements were performed in pump-probe mode, synchronizing magnetic pulses with synchrotron x-ray pulses. The good magnetic contrast observed for most samples reveals that in many cases the magnetization reversal is reproducible. We have used the measurements to obtain domain wall propagation speeds as a function of applied magnetic field, and to investigate the influence of domain wall interactions on the magnetic switching.     

Soft magnetic properties of FeCo films with Co underlayer

Bilayered Fe₆₅Co₃₅ (=FeCo)/Co films were prepared by facing targets sputtering with 4πM_s∼24 kg. The soft magnetic properties of FeCo films were induced by a Co underlayer. H_c decreased rapidly when the Co underlayer was 2 nm or more. The films showed well-defined in-plane uniaxial anisotropy with the typical values of H_ce=10 Oe and H_ch=3 Oe, respectively. High frequency characteristics of the films show the films can work at 0.8 GHz with real permeability as high as 250.     

Substrate orientation-induced distinct ferromagnetic moment in Co:ZnO films

Dilute (3.8 at.%) cobalt-doped ZnO thin films are deposited on LiTaO₃ (LT) substrates with three different orientations [LT(1 1 0), LT(0 1 2) and LT(0 1 8)] by direct current reactive magnetron co-sputtering. The experimental results indicate that Co atoms with 2+ chemical valence are successfully incorporated into the ZnO host matrix on various oriented substrates, and the substrate orientations have a profound influence on the crystal growth and magnetization of Co:ZnO films. A large magnetic moment of 2.42μ_B/Co at room temperature is obtained in the film deposited on LT(0 1 2), while the corresponding values of the other films deposited on LT(1 1 0) and LT(0 1 8) are 1.21μ_B/Co and 0.65μ_B/Co, respectively. Furthermore, the crystal growth mode of Co:ZnO films on various oriented LT, the relationship between the microstructures and corresponding ferromagnetic properties are also discussed.     

Magnetic properties of Co/Pd multilayered films on porous Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> templates with developed cell substructure

We studied the structure and magnetic properties of porous multilayered Co/Pd films deposited on the templates of anodized Al₂O₃ with a specific surface morphology that is characterized by a cellular–porous structure with several pores inside each cell. X-ray diffraction analysis and reflectometry are used to study the peculiarities of the formation of phases in deposited films. The effect of morphological features of porous Co/Pd films on their magnetoanisotropic properties and magnetization reversal processes (magnetization reversal mechanisms, domain structure of films, and coercive field H _c ) is revealed by SQUID magnetometry and magnetic force microscopy.     

Investigation of ferromagnetic coupling between Co layers in a Co/Pt multilayer with perpendicular anisotropy

The coercivity of a Co/Pt multilayer with out-of-plane anisotropy can be lowered greatly if it is grown onto an ultrathin NiO underlayer . By making use of this characteristic, a series of samples glass/NiO(10 Å)/[Co(4 Å)/Pt(5 Å)]₃/Pt(x Å)/[Co(4 Å)/Pt(5 Å)]₃ with different Pt spacer thickness have been prepared to determine the ferromagnetic (FM) coupling between Co layers across the Pt layer. The measurements of major and minor hysteresis loops have shown that the FM coupling between the top and bottom Co/Pt multilayers decreases monotonically with the Pt layer thickness and disappears above the Pt layer thickness of 40 Å. This thickness of 40 Å is much larger than that in the literature. In addition to the FM coupling between the top and bottom Co/Pt multilayers across the Pt spacer, there exists a weak biquadratic coupling, which induces the broad transition of the bottom Co/Pt multilayer.     

Magnetization reversal in bulk and thin films of the ferrimagnetic ErCo0.50Mn0.50O3 perovskite

We present herein a comparison of the magnetic properties of bulk ceramics and thin films of the ferrimagnetic ErCo_0.50Mn_0.50O₃ compound. Epitaxial thin films were deposited onto (1 0 0) SrTiO₃ substrates by pulsed-laser ablation while bulk ceramics were prepared by solid state reaction. When cooling under low applied fields, a spin reversal is observed in both thin film and bulk due to the competition between two magnetic sublattices (Co/Mn and Er) coupled by a negative exchange interaction. Original features are observed in the M(H) loops for bulk materials: abrupt jumps at 4 T due to a reorientation of domains, while in the low field region, the increasing and decreasing branches of the magnetization intersect each other. In the thin film, the ordering temperature increased from 69 to 75 K, and the ZFC anomaly (AF transition) became sharper, compared to the bulk specimen. The oxygen content and the microstructure are crucial to observe the intersection of the magnetization branches.     

Electrochemical formation of intermediate layer for Co/Pd multilayered media

Pd nanocluster seeds were formed on a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL) using an electrochemical substitution reaction, and were utilized as an intermediate layer for a Co/Pd multilayered ([Co/Pd]_n) perpendicular magnetic recording medium. A CoNiFeB film prepared with electroless deposition was used as SUL, which was immersed into a PdCl₂ solution for the formation of Pd seeds. The Pd seeds were found to effectively reduce the size of magnetic domains in the [Co/Pd]_n film deposited on them. The optimization of the concentration of the PdCl₂ solution and the use of the pretreatment process with a SnCl₂ solution were effective to obtain the smooth SUL surface with fine Pd seeds as small as 5 nm. The 20 nm-thick [Co/Pd]_n film deposited on the optimized Pd seeds/CoNiFeB SUL exhibited a high coercivity of 7.8 kOe and a small magnetic domain size of 69 nm. These results indicated that the combination of the Pd seeds and the electroless-deposited SUL was desirable in terms of the improvement not only in the magnetic properties of [Co/Pd]_n media but also in the mass productivity of the underlayer.     

A comparison of the magnetic anisotropy of [001] and [111] oriented Co/Pd Multilayers

Superlattices of [001]_fcc Co/Pd with varying Co thicknesses from one to eight atomic layers per modulation period were epitaxially grown on NaCl by vapour deposition in UHV. Transmission electron diffraction indicates lattice coherence between the Co and the Pd layers for Co thicknesses up to six atomic layers. If deposited at a substrate temperatureT _s=50°C, only the superlattices containing Ci-monolayers show perpendicular magnetization. By raisingT _s to 200°C, the perpendicular anisotropy for Co monolayers is increased, and is also observed for Co bilayers. We suggest that this is due tolayer smoothening, which increases Néel's interface anisotropy. For more than 6 atomic layers of Co a loss of coherence is observed atT _s=50°C, accompanied by a structure transformation to hcp Co with a (0001)_Co(111)_Pd orientation.Non-epitaxial polycrystalline [111]-multilayers have a different anisotropy versus thickness behaviour. For such multilayers the range of Co thicknesses giving perpendicular magnetization is extended from 8 Å up to 12 Å atT _s=200°C. The different behaviour of the single crystal [001] films is caused by a strong volume contribution to the anisotropy, which favours in-plane magnetization, opposing the perpendicular interface anisotropy. This easy-plane term is attributed to magneto-elastic anisotropy due to stretching of the Co layers, via a positive magnetostriction.