Effect of gas mixing on Xe ion currents from an ECR ion source

Gas mixing technique has been used in order to increase the current of highly charged ions of Xe at the TIFR-ECRIA. The He, N₂, O₂, Ne, and Ar are used as support gases, and their effect on output currents of Xe ions is studied. The effective ion charge and the total loss rate of ions are calculated from the measured currents. It is found that molecular gases, such as N₂ and O₂, exhibit better mixing effect in the enhancement of output of highly charged Xe ions. Furthermore, we describe this 14.5-GHz ECR ion source mounted on a high voltage (400 kV) deck, with its four beamlines, as well as the control system for the remote operation.     

Swift ion irradiations of Fe/Fe/Si trilayers

We report here on changes in magnetism and microstructure when implanting, at 92 or 300 K, up to 5 × 10¹⁵ Au²⁶⁺-ions cm⁻² of 350 MeV into ^natFe(45 nm)/⁵⁷Fe(20 nm)/Si trilayers. This choice of ions and energy allowed to test the irradiation effects in the regime of pure electronic stopping. The samples were analysed before and after irradiation by Rutherford back-scattering spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy, and magneto-optical Kerr effect. Up to 1 × 10¹⁵ ions cm⁻², there was interface broadening at a mixing rate of Δσ²/Φ = 55(5) nm⁴, followed by full Fe-Si inter-diffusion. The Mössbauer spectra revealed fractions of α-Fe and amorphous ferromagnetic and paramagnetic iron silicides, but no crystalline Fe-Si phase. The magnetic remanence in the as-deposited Fe-layer showed small components of uniaxial and four-fold magnetization. For increasing ion fluence, the component with four-fold symmetry grew at the expense of the uniaxial component. For the highest fluences, an isotropic magnetization was found.     

Effect of Kr ion irradiation on the Fe/SiO2 interface

Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) has been used to investigate the various Fe coordination states at the interface of the Fe/SiO₂ couple after irradiation with 200 keV Kr ions in the dose range from 2.5×10¹⁵ to 3.5×10¹⁶ ions/cm². After removal of the unmixed Fe layer by a simple etching procedure, it was possible to recognize the presence of small Fe clusters, Fe-oxide and Fe-silicate phases, whose relative amount has been determined as a function of the irradiation dose. The amount of mixed Fe has been evaluated in the etched samples by means of Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). Structural changes in the interfacial region after thermal annealings for 5 h at 500 and 700°C have been detected and correlated to corre-sponding changes in optical properties.     

Effect of swift heavy ion irradiation in Fe/W multilayer structures

Present study reports effect of swift heavy ion irradiation on structural and magnetic properties of sputtered Fe/W multilayer structures (MLS) having bilayer compositions of [Fe(20 Å)/W(10 Å)]_5BL and [Fe(20 Å)/W(30 Å)]_5BL. These MLS are irradiated by 120 MeV Au⁹⁺ ions up to fluence of 4 × 10¹³ ions/cm². X-ray reflectivity (XRR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (X-TEM) and magneto optical Kerr effect (MOKE) techniques are used for structural and magnetic characterization of pristine and irradiated MLS. Analysis of XRR data using Parratt's formalism shows a significant increase in W/Fe interface roughness. WAXD and X-TEM studies reveals that intra-layer microstructure of Fe-layers in MLS becomes nano-crystalline on irradiation. MOKE study shows increase in coercivity at higher fluence, which may be due to increase in surface and interface roughness after recrystallization of Fe-layers.     

The size of thermal spikes in xenon-irradiated Ag/Fe bilayers

Ag/Fe bilayers in which a submonolayer of ¹¹¹In had been deposited in the Fe layer at a distance of x=0–17 nm from the interface, were irradiated at 80 K with 450 keV Xe ions to a fluence of 3 and 6⋅ 10¹⁵ ions/cm². Perturbed Angular Correlation spectroscopy was used to monitor the microsurrounding of the ¹¹¹In tracers and to identify the radiation-induced defects. The fraction of tracer atoms being transported into the Ag layer cannot be explained by ballistic mixing, but is reproduced when assuming local thermal spikes to develop. The diffusion of ¹¹¹In into the Ag layer can be modeled if the local spikes have an average diameter of some 5 nm. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Scaling law of anomalous Hall effect in Fe/Cu bilayers

The scaling of anomalous Hall resistivity on longitudinal resistivity has been intensively studied in different magnetic systems, including multilayer and granular films, to examine whether a skew scattering or a side jump mechanism dominates in the origin of anomalous Hall effect (AHE). The scaling law is based on the premise that both resistivities are a consequence of electron scattering by the imperfections in the materials. By studying the anomalous Hall effect in the simple Fe/Cu bilayers, it was demonstrated that the measured anomalous Hall effect should not follow the scaling laws derived from skew scattering or side jump mechanism due to the short-circuit and shunting effects of the non-magnetic layers.     

Origin of large spin Hall magnetoresistance in Fe/CuOx bilayers

We have compared the spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) in Fe/Pt and Fe/CuO_x (with natural oxidation) bilayers with varying the thickness of Fe layer. A larger SMR in Fe/CuO_x bilayers has been found when the thickness of Fe layer is 3 nm. Moreover, the SMR of the two bilayers decrease with increasing the thickness of Fe from 3 nm to 10 nm, but that of Fe/CuO_x drops more sharply due to shunting current effect. Through harmonic measurements, the emergent spin current is proved to be generated in the Fe/CuO_x bilayers. The mixed phase of CuO_x has been confirmed including CuO, Cu₂O and Cu, which performs strong spin-orbit coupling and produce large spin current. On the other hand, the interface-generated spin current should be ruled out. All the results have been compared with those in Fe/Al₂O₃ bilayers with negligible spin current.     

Enhancement of magnetic coercivity in Fe/Mn and Co/Mn bilayers

The dependence of the coercive field and saturated magnetization on the interfacial width is studied to understand the driving mechanism of the coercive enhancement in Fe/Mn and Co/Mn bilayers. We establish a controlled annealing procedure to reveal the origin of this enhancement. Using a model, we reveal that the full interfacial width plays a keyrole, and that no Mn based finite size effects drive the mechanism. We show that this mechanism is common to both type of bilayers.     

Effect of ion irradiation on magnetic property of exchange coupled interfacial structures of Fe/NiO and NiO/Fe on Si substrates

The role of defects on the magnetic behaviour of exchange coupled interfacial structures of Fe/NiO and NiO/Fe on Si substrates has been studied. For introduction of defects in the structures, swift (～ 100 MeV) heavy ion irradiation has been used, which is known to cause structural and microstructural modifications. In our earlier study [Srivastava, N; Srivastava, P.C. J. Appl. Phys. 2012, 111, 123909] on similar structures, the significant magnetic behaviour (of exchange bias (EB) and coercivity) for Fe/NiO/nSi interfacial structure was observed and discussed in the realm of interfacial structural modification in the antiferromagnetic layer of the structure. The irradiated interfacial structures have been characterized from X-ray diffraction and M–H characteristics. Structural investigation has shown the formation of various silicide and oxide phases due to the irradiation-induced interfacial intermixing. A significant enhancement in EB field and coercivity has been observed for Fe/NiO/nSi interfacial structure on the irradiation (as compared to unirradiated ones). The observed enhanced EB and coercivity on the irradiation has been understood due to the creation of domain wall pinning centres across the interface as a result of ion irradiation. Moreover, the present study confirms the role of defects in the antiferromagnetic layer to cause the significant change in EB and coercivity. The observation supports the domain state model of EB in the exchange-coupled structures.     

Nitrogen irradiation of Fe/Si bilayers: nitride versus silicide phase formation

In the course of a systematic investigation of heavy ion-irradiated Fe/Si layers, we have studied atomic transport and phase formation induced by 22-keV ¹⁴N²⁺ ion implantation in ⁵⁷Fe(30 nm)/Si bilayers at high fluences. We report here results obtained by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy after implantation and post-implantation annealing treatments. The irradiations caused little sputtering, but significant interface mixing. During implantation, iron nitrides, but no silicides were formed, even at the highest nitrogen fluence of 2×10¹⁷ ions/cm². When heating these samples in vacuo up to 700 °C, the iron-rich phases -Fe₃N and -Fe₄N were produced. Starting at 600 °C the silicide phase -FeSi₂ was also identified. PACS 61.72.Ww; 61.80.-x; 68.35.Dv; 81.20.-n; 81.70.-q     

Fe/MnAs bilayers: Magnetic anisotropy and the role of the interface

We have studied different aspects of the magnetic behavior of Fe(5 nm)/MnAs(100 nm) bilayers epitaxially grown on GaAs(1 0 0). Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements were performed in order to characterize the magnetic anisotropies of the films and the interlayer coupling between them. The chemical composition of the interface was investigated by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS).     

Control of interlayer exchange coupling in Fe/Cr/Fe trilayers by ion beam irradiation

The manipulation of the antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling in epitaxial Fe/Cr/Fe(001) trilayers by 5 keV He ion beam irradiation has been investigated. It is shown that even for irradiation with low fluences a drastic change in strength of the coupling appears. For thin Cr spacers (below 0.6-0.7 nm) it decreases with fluence, becoming ferromagnetic for fluences above 2x10(14) ions/cm(2). The effect is connected with the creation of magnetic bridges in the layered system due to atomic exchange events caused by the bombardment. For thicker Cr spacers an enhancement of the antiferromagnetic coupling strength is found. A possible explanation of the enhancement effect is given.     

Effect of Sn on methane decomposition over Fe supported catalysts to produce carbon

In this work, alumina-supported Sn containing Fe catalysts were investigated in CVD reactions (Chemical Vapor Deposition) using methane for carbon production. The catalysts were prepared with 10 wt.% of Fe (as Fe₂O₃) and 3, 6 and 12 wt.% of Sn (as SnO₂) supported on Al₂O₃ named hereon Fe10Sn3A, Fe5Sn6A and Fe10Sn12A, respectively. These catalysts were characterized by SEM, TPCVD, TPR, TG, Raman, XRD and ⁵⁷Fe and ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Methane reacts with Fe10A catalyst (without Sn) in the temperature range 680?C900°C to produce mainly Fe⁰, Fe₃C and 20 wt.% of carbon deposition. TPR and TPCVD clearly showed that Sn strongly hinders the CH₄ reaction over Fe catalyst. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer suggested that in the presence of Sn the reduction of Fe^?+?3 by methane becomes very difficult. ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer showed Sn^?+?4 species strongly interact with metallic iron after CVD, producing iron-tin phases such as Fe₃SnC and FeSn₂. This interaction Sn?CFe increases the CVD temperatures and decreases the carbon yield leading to the production of more organized forms of carbon such as carbon nanotubes, nanofibers and graphite.     

Layer resolved magnetization reversal study in SmCo5/Fe nanocomposite bilayers

A hard/soft SmCo5/Fe nanocomposite magnetic bilayer system is fabricated on x-ray transparent 100-200 nm thin Si3N4 films by magnetron sputtering.The microscopic magnetic domain pattern and its behaviours during magnetization reversal in the hard and the soft magnetic phases are studied separately by element specific magnetic soft x-ray microscopy at a spatial resolution of better than 25 nm.We observe that the domain patterns for the soft and hard phases show coherent behaviours in varying magnetic fields.We derive local M(H) curves from the images of Fe and SmCo5 separately and find the switches for hard and soft phases to be the same.     

Anomalous ion channeling in AlInN/GaN bilayers: determination of the strain state

Monte Carlo simulations of anomalous ion channeling in near-lattice-matched AlInN/GaN bilayers allow an accurate determination of the strain state of AlInN by Rutherford backscattering or channeling. Although these strain estimates agree well with x-ray diffraction (XRD) results, XRD composition estimates are shown to have limited accuracy, due to a possible deviation from Vegard's law, which we quantify for this alloy. As the InN fraction increases from 13% to 19%, the strain in AlInN films changes from tensile to compressive with lattice matching predicted to occur at [InN] = 17.1%.     

Domain wall nucleation in epitaxial exchange-biased Fe/IrMn bilayers with highly misaligned anisotropies

The angular dependence of the magnetization reversal in epitaxial Fe/IrMn bilayers with collinear and non-collinear cubic and unidirectional anisotropies is investigated. Multistep loops with different magnetization reversal processes are observed for either positive or negative angles with respect to the Fe easy axis. The angular dependence of the switching fields displays the broken symmetry of the induced non-collinearity. The experimental results are reproduced with a generalized domain wall nucleation model that includes the induced anisotropy configuration and the peculiar asymmetric magnetic switching behavior. These results highlight the importance of the relative angle between anisotropies in epitaxial exchange bias systems with incoherent rotation reversal mechanism, opening a new pathway for tailoring the magnetic properties of such systems.