Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the Co50Pt50, Co50Pd50, and Co50Pt50 ? xPdx thin films

Films of the Co₅₀Pt₅₀, Co₅₀Pd₅₀, and Co₅₀Pt_{50 − x} Pd _x alloys (where x = 1–10 at %) have been prepared. The processes of atomic ordering and its influence on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and the coercive force in these films have been investigated. The dependence of the coercive force on the film thickness has been analyzed. It has been shown that thin films of ordered alloys become magnetically uniaxial with the easy axis normal to their plane and can be used for magnetic and thermomagnetic recording and storage of information.     

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in Co50Pt50 and Co50Pt50 ? x Pd x films

Atomic ordering and its effect on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and coercive force in Co₅₀Pt₅₀ and Co₅₀Pt_{50 − x} Pd _x (x = 3–10 at %) alloy films are investigated. The dependence of the coercive force on the film thickness is studied. It is shown that thin films of the ordered alloys become magnetically uniaxial with the easy magnetic axis normal to the plane of the film. Such films can be used for magnetic and thermomagnetic data recording and storage.     

Magnetic domain structures and magnetotransport properties in Co-Ag granular thin films

The magnetic microstructures and magnetotransport properties in granular Co_xAg_1-x films with 17%≤x≤62% were studied. Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) observations showed the presence of magnetic stripe domains in as-deposited samples with x≥45% and the evolution of the magnetic domain patterns to in-plane domains with annealing. A perpendicular magnetic anisotropy as high as about 8×10⁵ ergs/cc for as-deposited Co₆₂Ag₃₈ and about 6×10⁵ ergs/cc for as-deposited Co₄₅Ag₅₅ was observed by magnetization and torque measurements. With increasing annealing temperature, the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy became negative. The origin of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy may be attributed to a rhombohedral distortion of the cubic cell due to residual substrate-film stresses. The magnetic stripe domains are the consequence of the interplay of the indirect or direct exchange, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and dipolar interactions. Finally, magnetoresistance (MR) curves displayed training behaviours and different shapes when measured with different configurations (parallel, transverse and perpendicular). It is proposed that the existence and the evolution of the magnetic domain structures strongly affect the magnetotransport properties due to the extra contribution of the electron scattering at the domain walls. Furthermore, an anisotropic MR also contributes to the overall MR curves. Received: 2 March 2000 / Accepted: 28 March 2000 / Published online: 23 May 2001     

Seedlayer interface enhanced magnetic anisotropy in CoPt (0 0 0 2)-textured films

The effects of interface roughness of Ta seedlayer on the structural and magnetic properties of Co₇₂Pt₂₈(20 nm)/Ru(30 nm)/Pt(2 nm)/Ta(5 nm)/glass were investigated. Uniaxial perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (8.6×10⁶ ergs/cc), coercivity (5.5 kOe) and nucleation field (−2.8 kOe) in the Co₇₂Pt₂₈ thin film sputter-deposited on relatively smooth surface of Ta seedlayer were achieved. The results showed that relatively smoother interface roughness of Ta seedlayer improved the CoPt/Ru (0 0 0 2) texture and magnetic properties.     

Fabrication and magnetic properties of amorphous Co0.71Pt0.29 nanowire arrays

Highly ordered Co_0.71Pt_0.29 alloy nanowire arrays have been fabricated successfully by direct current electro-deposition into the pores of a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. SEM and TEM images reveal that the nanowires of array are uniform, well isolated, and parallel to one another. The aspect ratio of nanowires is over 200. XRD and EDS pattern indicates that amorphous Co_0.71Pt_0.29 structure was formed during electro-deposition. In amorphous sample, magnetocrystal anisotropy is very small, therefore, shape anisotropy plays a dominant role which leads to strong perpendicular anisotropy. High coercivity (Hc=1.7 kOe) and squareness (Mr/Ms) around 0.7 were obtained in the samples when the field was applied parallel to the axis of the nanowires. However, when it changed to polycrystalline structure after annealing, due to the competition of magnetocrystal anisotropy and shape anisotropy, the sample did not display perpendicular anisotropy.     

Density functional study of small cobalt-platinum nanoalloy clusters

The structural, energetic, electronic and magnetic properties of small bimetallic Co_nPt_m (n+m≤5) nanoalloy clusters are investigated by density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. A plausible candidate for the ground state isomer and the other possible local minima, binding energies, relative stabilities, magnetic moments, the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gaps have been calculated. It is found as a general trend that average binding energies of Co-Pt bimetallic clusters increase with Pt doping. Planar structures of pure Co clusters become 3D with the addition of Pt atoms. CoPt₂, Co₂Pt₂, Co₃Pt₂, and CoPt₄ nanoalloys are identified as the most stable species since they have higher second finite difference in energy than the others. Pt doping decreases the total spin magnetic moment gradually. A rule for the prediction of the total spin moments of small Co-Pt bimetallic clusters is derived.     

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation of60Co in ferromagnetic alloys Pt99Co1 and Pd99Co1

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation (SLR) of⁶⁰Co in the systems Pt₉₉Co₁, Pd₉₉Co₁ has been studied by very low temperature nuclear orientation technique. The thermal cycling method has been used. The difference of two orders of magnitude of Korringa constant has been found between Pt₉₉Co₁ and Pd₉₉Co₁.     

Synthetic Co50Pt50/Ru/CoFe hard–soft trilayer in spin valves

The influence of deposition power and seedlayer on the properties of hard magnet Co₅₀Pt₅₀ was studied. Co₅₀Pt₅₀(/Co₉₀Fe₁₀)/Ru/Co₉₀Fe₁₀ trilayer was used as pining/pinned layer in spin valves. The influences of different hard layer, soft layer and free layer on exchange bias, interlayer coupling, and magnetoresistance (MR) ratio were studied. Weak antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling was obtained by adjusting the thickness of hard and soft layers. MR of a spin valve with structure Cr2/CoFe0.5/CoPt4/CoFe0.5/Ru0.8/CoFe2.2/Cu2.05/CoFe2.6/Cu1.1/Ta1 reached 10.68% (unit in nm), which is comparable to those of IrMn-based synthetic spin valves. The increment of the coercivity of the free layer is mainly due to the static magnetic interaction between the hard layer and the free layer.     

Dependence of the microstructure and magnetic properties of amorphous TbFeCo films on the type and pressure of the gas in sputtering

Amorphous Tb₃₀Fe₆₀Co₁₀ films have been fabricated by magnetron sputtering. The dependences of the microstructure and magnetic properties of these films on the type and pressure of the gas in the sputtering chamber have been studied. The pressure of the Ar, Kr, and Xe gases used in the experiments is varied in the sputtering chamber from 0.01 to 4.00 Pa. It has been established that sputtering in the heavy gas (Kr) conducted within the pressure range covered does not permit fabricating TbFeCo films with the easy magnetization axis perpendicular to the film plane. With Xe used at pressures below 1.0 Pa, one observes in TbFeCo films an increase of the coercivity, with the hysteresis loop approaching rectangular shape. Sputtering and deposition in Ar at a pressure of ??0.67 Pa result in the formation of amorphous Tb₃₀Fe₆₀Co₁₀ films with magnetic characteristics satisfying the requirements imposed upon information carriers intended to be employed in perpendicular recording. It has been demonstrated that, by magnetron sputtering in an Ar atmosphere performed at pressures below 1 Pa, one can produce amorphous Tb₃₀Fe₆₀Co₁₀ films suitable for magneto-optical ultra-high-density information recording.     

低相变温度垂直取向的CoPtCu/Ag纳米复合膜

采用磁控溅射(Ag/Cu/CoPt)_n多层膜先驱体结合真空退火的方法制备了一系列CoPtCu/Ag纳米复合薄膜，通过优化薄膜中Ag以及Cu的含量，成功制备出了低相变温度垂直取向的CoPtCu/Ag纳米复合膜，该膜在450℃退火即可发生相变，该温度比目前所报导的CoPtAg纳米复合膜的相变温度降低了150℃. 实验结果表明，薄膜中一定含量的Ag元素能够有效诱导薄膜的(001)取向，Cu元素的加入能有效降低薄膜的有序化温度. 对于特定组分为Co₄₀Pt₃₆Cu₈Ag₁₆的薄膜，经500℃退火后已经显示了明显的(001)取向，垂直于膜面方向上的矫顽力为5.0×10⁵A/m，并且薄膜中晶粒尺寸仅为4—5nm，为将来CoPt-L1₀有序相合金薄膜用于超高密度垂直磁记录介质打下了基础. 关键词： 磁记录材料 CoPt 纳米复合膜     

DOMAIN STRUCTURES AND ANISOTROPY IN Pt1-xCux/Co MULTILAYER THIN FILMS

The domain structures of Pt_1-xCu_x/Co multilayer films in as-grown and remanent states have been investigated by using magnetic force microscope. The magnetic domain patterns are strongly influenced by the Cu concentration. For pure Pt/Co multilayer in as-grown state, its domain pattern is depicted as island-like one; however, with the Cu doped in Pt spacer layers, the doman patterns become dot-like, but the island-like domain pattern appears again for the Cu concentration of 14 at%. The domain patterns variation can be attributed to the change of effective perpendicular anisotropy K_ueff due to the effect of Cu atom doped in the Pt spacer layers. Besides, the domain structures of Pt/Co multilayer films in remanent state after the application of various perpendicular magnetic fields have also been studied.     

The magnetic properties of some R5Pt3 compounds (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho)

The magnetic susceptibility and magnetization of the R₅Pt₃ intermetallic compounds have been studied. Gd₅Pt₃ is ferromagnetic while Tb₅Pt₃, Dy₅Pt₃ and Ho₅Pt₃ possess rather a non-linear magnetic structure, with strong ferromagnetic interaction and high anisotropy effects at low temperatures.     

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.     

Mössbauer effect investigations of Co83Fe17/Au/Co/Au multilayers

[Co₈₃Fe₁₇/Au/Co/Au]_N sputter deposited multilayers displaying a giant magnetoresistance have been investigated. Complementary magnetic measurements were conducted in order to characterize a spin reorientation transition in Co₈₃Fe₁₇ layers sandwiched between Au spacers. The transition from a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy to easy-plane one takes place at the thickness of about 1 nm.     

Polarization effects of the spectral thermal IR and visible emission from ferromagnets

Magneto-optical effects are usually investigated by reflection or transmission measurements. An alternative is the experimental study of the spectral thermal emission from a heated magnetized sample. In this paper we report on experiments and theory of two magneto-optical effects related to the spectral thermal emission from ferromagnets.The first effect was discovered by Müller, Fuchs and Kneubühl in 1977. They demonstrated that the spectral thermal emission of an axially magnetized Fe rod exhibits a partial circular polarization. We have measured this effect in the Spectral range from 0.25 to 2 eV for a set of FeCo alloys. The spectra show a maximum at low energies. With increasing photon energy the polarization decreases and changes its sign at 1.35, 1.50 and 1.65 eV for the alloys Fe₇₉ Co₂₁, Fe₅₅ Co₄₅ and Fe₃₁ Co₆₉, respectively. With a specific theoretical model we have succeeded in explaining the dependence of the effect on the wavelength and on the Co concentration.In relation to the above effect we have discovered that the thermal radiation emitted from a ferromagnetic sample magnetized parallel to its surface is partially linearly polarized. This effect is even with respect to the magnetization and of the order of 10⁻³ for saturated Fe. We have determined experimentally this linear polarization as a function of the wavelength, the temperature and the external field. In the spectral range of 0.25-1.25 eV minima have been observed at 0.3, 0.45 and 0.6 eV for Fe₇₉ Co₂₁, Fe₅₅ Co₄₅ and Fe₃₁ Co₆₉, respectively, and maxima at 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.15eV for Fe₇₉ Co₂₁, Fe₅₅ Co₄₅ and Fe₃₁ Co₆₉, respectively. These spectra show a shift to higher energies for increasing Co concentration in analogy to the spectra of the circular polarization effect. Furthermore, we have measured the dependence of the polarization on the temperature from 600 K up to the Curie temperature where the effect vanishes. The polarization decreases almost linearly with rising temperature for Fe and Fe₃₁ Co₆₉. However, for Fe₇₉ Co₂₁ and Fe₅₅ Co₄₅ the polarization shows a sharp drop at the Curie temperature, which can be associated with the phase transition from bcc to fcc. In addition, Fe₅₅ Co₄₅ shows a hysteresis of linear polarization for rising and falling temperature. The origin is the order-disorder transition at 1000 K.Our study demonstrates that the measurement of polarization effects of the spectral thermal emission is supplementary to the standard transmission and reflection measurements and, therefore, is a valuable tool for the investigation of magneto-optical effects.     

The role of material microstructure in the magnetic behavior of amorphous and polycrystalline Co<Subscript>x</Subscript>Si<Subscript>1-x</Subscript> lines

The role of material microstructure in the magnetic anisotropy of real nanostructures has been studied by the comparison of the magnetic behavior of arrays of amorphous and polycrystalline Co_xSi_1-x lines. From the experimental measurements of angular dependences of remanences parallel and perpendicular to the applied field we determine the angular dispersion of effective local easy axis of anisotropy. We have proved that amorphous lines have a dispersion of effective anisotropy axis much smaller than the polycrystalline samples. As a consequence, amorphous lines have a better defined magnetic behaviour, pointing the interest of the fabrication of nanostructures made of amorphous materials.     

Influence of quenching rate on the structural, soft magnetic and magnetoimpedance properties of melt-spun Co69Fe7Si14B10 alloy

Melt-spun ribbons of Co₆₉Fe₇Si₁₄B₁₀ alloy have been prepared at different wheel speeds viz. 47, 34 and 17 m/s and investigated for structural and magnetic properties. Degree of amorphicity in the as-spun ribbons is found to increase with wheel speed. Amorphous phase crystallizes in two stages producing Co₂Si, Co₂B and CoSi phases on annealing. Increase in wheel speed improves soft magnetic and magnetoimpedance properties due to decrease in perpendicular anisotropy which is associated with stripe domain formation. On annealing soft magnetic properties and magnetoimpedance deteriorate due to the formation of crystalline phases.     

Structural and magnetic properties of CoPt clusters

The geometrical structures, electronic and magnetic properties of Co_n − xPt_x (n=2–13,38,55$n=2\text{–}13,38,55$) alloy clusters have been systematically investigated by using the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation (DFT–GGA). It is found that CoPt alloy clusters adopt the structures of corresponding monatomic Co clusters, where Pt atoms localize at the surface sites and tend to bond together forming a Pt exterior shell. The ferromagnetic coupling between atoms is determined in CoPt clusters, and the Co local magnetic moments can be enhanced by the increase of Pt concentration.     

Effect of the CrW sublayer on the structure and magnetic properties of thin FePt films

Multilayer Fe₅₅Pt₄₅(20 nm)/Pt(5 nm)/Cr_{100 ? x} W _x (80 nm)/glass structures, in which the Fe₅₅Pt₄₅ magnetic film has a face-centered tetragonal (FCT) structure of the L1₀ phase with the (001) texture, have been prepared using magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and texture of the FePt films have been studied as functions of the W content in the Cr_{100 ? x} W _x sublayer, where 0 < x < 25. It has been established that an increase in the W ion concentration leads to the formation of the (200) texture in the Cr_{100 ? x} sublayer and to an increase in the Cr lattice constant. This is accompanied by a decrease in the temperature at which the facecentered cubic phase transforms into the FCT phase of the FePt films as a result of the increase in tensile stresses along the a axis. It has been found that the coercivity of FePt films deposited on CrW substrates increases with increasing W content in the Cr_{100 ? x} W _x sublayer because the CrW alloy thus formed precludes diffusion between the FePt film and the CrW sublayer. An additional 5-nm-thick intermediate Pt layer is also deposited to suppress diffusion between the FePt and CrW layers. As a result, the highly textured FePt(001) films intended for ultra-high density magnetic information recording are deposited on a substrate heated to a temperature of 400°C and the Cr₈₅W1₁₅ sublayer.     

Thermo-stimulated surface segregation in the ordering alloy Pt80Co20(1 1 1): Experiment and modeling

In this paper, a method of Ionization Spectroscopy (IS) is proposed for the non-destructive layer-by-layer analysis of the elemental composition of a solid surface. Using ionization energy loss spectra, a layer-by-layer concentration profile of the Pt₈₀Co₂₀(1 1 1) alloy surface is obtained for different annealing temperatures. For the disordered Pt₈₀Co₂₀(1 1 1) at room temperature, the first atomic layer consists of pure Pt with damped oscillations in the deeper layers. Heating the sample reduces the oscillations. However, at a temperature of 823 K, a sandwich-like structure of the type Pt/Co/Pt was found in the first three atomic layers. For the ordered state the first atomic layer also consists of pure Pt with bulk concentration in other layers. LEED analysis shows a p(2 × 2) superstructure for the surface of the ordered Pt₈₀Co₂₀(1 1 1) alloy. The segregation behavior in this alloy is further studied by Monte Carlo (MC) simulations combined with the Constant Bond Energy (CBE) model. The results of the MC simulations agree well with the experiments at the higher temperatures, both for the surface composition and the concentration depth profile. At lower temperatures, some discrepancies exist between the MC results and the measured concentration profile.