Transverse susceptibility as the low-frequency limit of ferromagnetic resonance

A new theory of transverse susceptibility (TS) based on magnetization vector dynamics, as described by the Landau–Lifshitz equation of motion, is given. It is shown that the traditional TS experiment is, in fact, the zero-frequency limit of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). The importance of these results resides in the generality of the approach which allows one to find the TS for virtually any magnetic system if an expression for the magnetic free-energy density is known. Moreover, the effect of the frequency of excitatory AC field on the TS experiments and the effect of energy dissipation through the imaginary part of TS emerge coherently from the new TS model.     

Rapid magnetization reversal in magnetic small particles induced by non-static bias field

Magnetization reversal processes by a switching field in single-domain nano-sized magnetic particles in the presence of a small transverse non-static bias field are studied. Applying an oscillating bias field instead of a static field, the reversal time becomes much shorter when the switching field is slightly stronger than the effective anisotropy field. A pulsed bias field of a suitably chosen duration in the nanosecond scale is found to induce a rapid switching, even when the switching field is smaller than the anisotropy field. The dependence of the reversal time on the frequency of an oscillating bias field and the duration of a pulsed bias field are studied. The present work thus complement the earlier studies on switching in the presence of a static bias field.     

Spectral analysis of the precessional switching of the magnetization in an isotropic thin film

We study how a magnetic field step triggers the precessional switching of the magnetization in an isotropic thin film. Using a variational approach, we make an analytical estimate of the switching frequency. We compare it to more general analytical models, and to the results obtained numerically by direct integration of the equations of motion. We show that the periodic motions of the three magnetization components can be described satisfactorily with truncated Fourier expansions, indicating a relatively high spectral purity of the magnetic response. Our analytical expressions are simple enough to be physically transparent at first sight, in contrast to the results of the more elaborate models that treat also anisotropy.     

Search for giant Franz-Keldysh-like effects in GaSe and other layered semiconductors

Recently, an anomalously large redshift of the absorption edge with electric field was claimed for -GaSe_1–x S _x layered crystals. We have studied Bridgman grown -GaSe crystals as well as vapor transport grown -GaS, and 2H-WSe₂. While we have observed a shift in the absorption edge for -GaSe similar to that reported in previous work, our results demonstrate that the redshift arises from Joule heating, and is thus temperature induced, rather than intrinsic. For -GaS, much larger resistivities virtually eliminate Joule heating, and our measurements of the electric field induced absorption edge shift yield an estimated upper limit of approximately 0.04 meV · cm/kV for a field of 2.4×10³ kV/cm, in good agreement with the theoretical value expected for the Franz-Keldysh effect.Also at University of Konstanz     

Fermionic representation of a symmetrically frustrated SU(3) model: Application to the Haldane-gap antiferromagnets

The one-dimensional spin 1 bilinear-biquadratic model is re-expressed in a symmetrically frustrated SU(3) model, which facilitates us to introduce a fermionic representation and related bond-operator mean-field theory. By analyzing the gap and the static spin susceptibility, we shows that this treatment can easily capture the commensurate and incommensurate Haldane gap phases.     

Spin waves propagation in Fibonacci quasiperiodic metamagnet superlattices

In this work we present a fractal analysis of the spin wave modes propagating in a Fibonacci quasiperiodic metamagnetic superlattices consisting of a ferromagnetic material (layer A being Fe) and a metamagnetic material (layer B being FeBr₂). The spin wave modes are obtained in the exchange regime, using the transfer matrix technique. Our numerical results show that the power law for this system is independent of the dimensionless in-plane wavevector kxa$k_{x}a$, and that the spectrum present a multifractal characteristic, exhibiting several scale invariant windows for a fixed value of the in-plane wavevector. The results reported here can be experimentally observed by light scattering techniques.     

Investigation of magnetic properties for oblique deposited granular films by magnetic field annealing

A series of (Fe₅₇Co₂₄Ni₄Nb₂B₁₃)_x-(SiO₂)_1−x nano-granular thin films were fabricated by magnetron sputtering with different oblique incidence angle θ and excellent soft magnetic properties are achieved. Based on the results of magnetic field anneal at different temperature T_a, it is evidenced that orientation of atomic pairs contributes to the annealing treatment, and could manipulate magnetic anisotropy. The damping coefficient α decreases with increasing angle θ and this is ascribed to the anisotropy dissipation.     

Photoacoustic gas sensing employing fundamental and frequency-doubled radiation of a continuously tunable high-pressure CO2 laser

We present the first photoacoustic spectrometer for gas sensing employing both the fundamental and the frequency-doubled radiation of a continuously tunable high-pressure CO₂ laser with room temperature operation. A quasi-phase-matched diffusion-bonded GaAs crystal is used in the system for second-harmonic generation. A pulsed photoacoustic detection scheme with a non-resonant cell, equipped with an 80-microphone array, is employed. The wide continuous tuning range in the fundamental (9.2–10.7 μm) and the frequency-doubled (4.6–5.35 μm) regimes, together with the narrow linewidth of 540 MHz (0.018 cm^-1) for the 10-μm region and of 1050 MHz (0.0315 cm^-1) for the 5-μm region, allow the measurement of gas mixtures, individual species and isotope discrimination. This is illustrated with measurements on NO and CO₂. The measured isotope ratio ¹⁵ NO/¹⁴ NO=(3.58±0.55)×10^-3 agrees well with the literature (3.700×10^-3) and demonstrates the good selectivity of the system. Received: 30 April 2002 / Revised version: 10 June 2002 / Published online: 2 September 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +41-1/633-1077, E-mail: sigrist@iqe.phys.ethz.ch     

Magnetic relaxation phenomena in a CuMn spin glass

Experiments on the temperature and time dependence of the response function and the field cooled magnetisation of a Cu(Mn) spin glass at temperatures below the zero field spin glass temperature are used to explore the non-equilibrium nature of the underlying spin configuration. The results imply that a certain spin configuration is imprinted on the system as the temperature is decreased at a constant cooling rate. The cooling rate governs the magnitude of the FC magnetisation ((H,T)). Any intermittent halt at a constant temperature, , imprints an extended spin configuration, a process that is reflected e.g. in a downward relaxation of . On continued cooling at the same rate, the magnitude of (T) remains at a lower level than that of a continuous cooling curve. These results are put into the context of the corresponding behaviour of the response function as observed in measurements of the relaxation of the zero field cooled magnetisation. Received 27 October 1998 and Received in final form 30 November 1998     

Global symmetry breaking in the nonconserved order parameter system during phase ordering

We study global symmetry breaking in the 2D system of scalar nonconserved order parameter following a quench to zero temperature. We show that the instant of time when the symmetry is broken and the final morphology is chosen corresponds to the saturation of the order parameter inside the domains. There are three possible final morphologies: the positive and negative order parameter final morphology, and the state of the coexisting positive and negative order parameter subsystems with a flat interface between them. We find also that each type of the final morphology constitutes about 1/3 of all cases, what agrees with the results obtained recently by Spirin et al. [Phys. Rev. E 65, 016119 (2001)]. Our results are pertinent for the two dimensional systems, but we suspect that there is also a way to apply similar arguments for the three dimensional ones.