Magnetization reversal in granular thin films

The paper discusses the physics of magnetization reversal in granular magnetic films. It gives an overview of the key physical properties that determine the collective and macroscopically observable magnetization reversal behavior. In particular, the multitude of observable hysteresis loops is reduced to three key physical quantities, namely the single grain switching field distribution D(h_s), the inter-granular exchange coupling constant J_ex, and the magnetostatic interaction constant J_ms. By varying the relative influence of these quantities, many different shapes of hysteresis loops can occur, which is documented by experimental examples. The regime of partially and strongly correlated reversal is discussed in detail, and minor loop measurements are presented that show scaling behavior for strongly correlated magnetization reversal in the vicinity of hysteresis loop criticality.     

Reversing the training effect in exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers

We performed a detailed study of the training effect in exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers. High-resolution measurements of the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) display an asymmetry in the first magnetization reversal process and training in the subsequent reversal processes. Surprisingly, the AMR measurements as well as magnetization measurements reveal that it is possible to partially reinduce the untrained state by performing a hysteresis measurement with an in-plane external field perpendicular to the cooling field. Indeed, the next hysteresis loop obtained in a field parallel to the cooling field resembles the initial asymmetric hysteresis loop, but with a reduced amount of spin rotation occurring at the first coercive field. This implies that the antiferromagnetic domains, which are created during the first reversal after cooling, can be partially erased.     

Exchange bias for ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic bilayers with the uniaxial anisotropy being misaligned with the exchange anisotropy

Using the principle of minimal energy and S-W model, the exchange bias for ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic bilayers has been investigated when the uniaxial anisotropy is misaligned with the exchange anisotropy. According to the relation between the energy of the bilayer and the orientation of ferromagnetic magnetization, it is found that the bilayer will be in the monostable state or bistable state when the external field is absent in the initial magnetization state. The monostable state or bistable state of the bilayer, which determines the angular dependence of exchange bias directly, is controlled by the competition between the exchange anisotropy and uniaxial anisotropy. When the applied field is parallel to the intrinsic easy axes and intrinsic hard axes, one of the switching fields of the hysteresis loop shows an abrupt change, while the other keep continuous by analyzing the magnetization reversal processes. Consequently, the exchange bias field and the coercivity will show a jump phenomenon. The numerical calculations indicate that both the magnitude and direction of the exchange anisotropy will significantly affect the angular dependence of exchange bias. The jump phenomenon of exchange bias is an intrinsic property of the bilayer, which is dependent on the interfacial exchange-coupling constant, the orientation of the exchange anisotropy, the thickness and uniaxial anisotropy constant of the ferromagnetic layer.     

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.     

Two distinct magnetic susceptibility peaks and magnetic reversal events in a cylindrical core/shell spin-1 Ising nanowire

The magnetization and susceptibility of a cylindrical core/shell spin-1 Ising nanowire are investigated within the effective-field theory with correlations for both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the shell and the core. We find that the nanowire system exhibits two distinct susceptibility peaks and two successive phase transitions; either both of them are second-order transitions or one is a second-order transition and the other is a first-order transition for a small exchange interaction. The susceptibility versus switching field and the hysteresis behavior are investigated for different temperatures. It is found that the magnetization reversal events appear as peaks in the susceptibility versus switching field curve, the positions of which define the coercive field points of the nanowire system; the distance between the two susceptibility peaks decreases with increasing temperature.     

Magnetization reversal in submicron disks: exchange biased vortices

Submicron, circular, ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic dots exhibit different magnetization reversal mechanisms depending on the direction of the magnetic applied field. Shifted, constricted hysteresis loops, typical for vortex formation, are observed for fields along the exchange bias direction. However, for fields applied close to perpendicular to the exchange bias direction, magnetization reversal occurs via coherent rotation. Magnetic force microscopy imaging together with micromagnetic simulations are used to further clarify the different magnetic switching behaviors.     

Origin of the asymmetric magnetization reversal behavior in exchange-biased systems: competing anisotropies

The magnetization reversal in exchange-biased ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic (FM-AFM) bilayers is investigated. Different reversal pathways on each branch of the hysteresis loop, i.e., asymmetry, are obtained both experimentally and theoretically when the magnetic field is applied at certain angles from the anisotropy direction. The range of angles and the magnitude of this asymmetry are determined by the ratio between the FM anisotropy and the interfacial FM-AFM exchange anisotropy. The occurrence of asymmetry is linked with the appearance of irreversibility, i.e., finite coercivity, as well as with the maximum of exchange bias, increasing for larger anisotropy ratios. Our results indicate that asymmetric hysteresis loops are intrinsic to exchange-biased systems and the competition between anisotropies determines the asymmetric behavior of the magnetization reversal.     

外应力对铁磁/反铁磁体系交换偏置的影响及阶跃现象

采用能量极小原理及S-W模型研究了外应力对铁磁/反铁磁（FM/AFM）双层薄膜体系交换偏置的影响.不施加外磁场时,根据能量与铁磁层磁化强度方向之间的关系,指出体系存在单稳态和双稳态两种不同的状态,是由交换各向异性与单轴各向异性之间的竞争控制的.体系处于单稳态还是双稳态直接决定着交换偏置的角度依赖关系.分析磁化过程发现,外磁场沿内禀易轴及内禀难轴方向施加时,磁滞回线的一支转换场发生突变,而另一支转换场则保持不变,最终导致交换偏置场和矫顽场出现阶跃行为.数值计算表明,交换偏置场和矫顽场在阶跃点均具有较大的数值 关键词： 单稳态 双稳态 外应力     

Effect of the soft layer thickness on magnetization reversal process of exchange-spring nanomagnet patterns

A systematic study of the magnetization reversal behavior in the regular arrangement of L1₀-FePt based exchange-spring nanomagnets with different thicknesses of the Co soft magnetic layer is presented. The magnetic property of the hard magnet is compared to two tuned exchange-spring magnets: its systems of 20 nm L1₀-FePt/3 nm, and 7 nm Co. In particular, we focus on the switching field distribution. The exchange coupling showed narrower SFD, in spite of the decoupled part switches earlier. The magnetization switching mechanism of exchange-spring nanomagnets patterns has been revealed with a first-order reversal curves technique and the switching field distribution. Further, the microscopic results using magnetic force microscopy show that the spin rotation of the non-interacting part in the thicker soft layered exchange-spring magnet. The part influences the magnetization reversal process. According to the experimental results, exchange coupling strength can be tuned by the thickness of the soft magnetic layer.     

Magnetization reversal in (0 0 1)Fe thin films studied by combining domain images and MOKE hysteresis loops

The magnetization reversal of epitaxial single-crystal Fe films has been studied by combining domain images and hysteresis loops. The reversal is quantitatively described by combining the coherent rotation model and the domain wall displacement model. The pinning energy exerted on the domain walls and the domain wall angle at the switching fields are obtained by fitting this model to experimental hysteresis loops. The field-dependent pinning energy and the domain wall angle in the reversal process, and the contributions of second-order magneto-optic effect to hysteresis loops, are revealed to be two important features of single-crystal Fe films.     

Composition-controlled exchange bias training effect in FeCr/IrMn bilayers

For FeCr/IrMn bilayers, the exchange bias training effect and the magnetization reversal mechanism are correlated to each other and depend on the composition of the ferromagnetic layer. For high Fe contents, the asymmetric magnetization reversal is observed. During the training effect, both exchange field and coercivity decrease monotonically, suggesting a type I training effect. For low Fe contents, the domain wall depinning takes place for the two hysteresis loop branches. Only exchange field diminution happens in the training effect. The coercivity almost does not change in the process, corresponding to a type II training effect. It is suggested that the motion of antiferromagnetic spins is modified by the magnetization reversal mechanism in the ferromagnetic layer.     

Study of the magnetic interaction in nanocrystalline Pr-Fe-Co-Nb-B permanent magnets

The magnetic properties of an isotropic, epoxy resin bonded magnets made from Pr-Fe-Co-Nb-B powder were investigated. The magnetization reversal process and magnetic parameters were examined by measurements of the initial magnetization curve, major and minor hysteresis loops and sets of recoil curves. From the initial magnetization curve and the field dependencies of the reversible and irreversible magnetization components derived from the recoil loops it was found that the magnetization reversal process is the combination of the nucleation of reversed domains and pinning of domain walls at the grain boundaries and the reversible rotation of magnetization vector in single domain grains. The interactions between grains were studied by means of δM plots. The nonlinear behavior of δM curve approve that the short range intergrain exchange coupling interactions are dominant in a field up to the sample coercivity.The interaction domains and fine magnetic structure were revealed as the evidence of exchange coupling between soft α-Fe and hard magnetic Nd₂Fe₁₄B grains.     

Influence of the intrinsic dynamics of the magnetisation on the hysteresis loop

We present numeric simulations of switching processes in small ferromagnetic particles. The dynamics of these processes and the influence of the dynamics of the applied and internal fields on the magnetization reversal are studied. In particular, the derivative in time of the effective fields influences the hysteresis of these particles. It is shown that fast switching, as is required in high-speed data storage, reduces the coercive field. A dynamically corrected Stoner–Wohlfarth dependence of the nucleation field is introduced for the limit of high-field rates and low damping. Implications of these findings are discussed for both, numerical simulation of hysteretic properties and the interpretation of experimental data.     

Low-field negative magnetization and coercive-field magnetization reversal in transition metal chalcogenides; Cr2FeSe4 magnetic structure from neutron diffraction

Low-field negative magnetization, of the order of −10⁻¹ emu/g-Oe, from 4.2 K up to room temperature and higher (350 K), and coercive-field magnetization reversal are both present in Cr_(3−x)Fe_xX₄ for X=S, Se, Te and x=0 to 3, and for Cr₅Te₈ and Cr₇Te₈. For Cr₂FeSe₄ the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetization is negative for 5 Oe and below. To obtain a more detailed knowledge of the magnetic phases involved in the observed magnetization versus temperature M(T) curves, we obtained and studied neutron diffraction (n.d.) scans on the compound Cr₂FeSe₄, taken at 14 temperatures from 4.2 to 300 K. For this same n.d. sample, the temperature for magnetization reversal of value −3×10⁻⁴ emu/g-Oe is 80 K in 40 Oe applied field, then the reversal disappears for 65 Oe applied field. The complex magnetic interactions responsible for this reversal are revealed in the hysteresis curves.     

Magnetization reversal of microsized Fe elliptic rings

We report on the magnetization reversal of elliptic ring patterns lithographically prepared from Fe films. The elliptic rings in four different arrays are all of the same size , but their geometry is disturbed by introducing an increasing number of slits into the rings. The magnetization reversal is studied by regular longitudinal vector magneto-optical Kerr effect in specular geometry as well as in Bragg geometry, using the diffraction spots from the grating for hysteresis measurements. The measurements are compared with the results of micromagnetic simulation, which allow a detailed interpretation of the experimental data. We find that the remagnetization process in an external magnetic field is characterized by single-step switching or double switching depending on the geometry of the structure.     

Partial magnetization reversal using laser annealing in patterned NiFe/FeMn film

We have studied local magnetization reversal by laser annealing in exchange biased NiFe/FeMn bilayer. Local magnetization reversal was performed by using the Nd:YAG laser under external magnetic field. When the laser illuminated the patterned film with the power of above 300 mW during 15 min, a magnetoresistance (MR) curve with symmetric peaks at the opposite field was obtained due to the local reversal of exchange biasing. A similar result was observed in NiFe/FeMn/NiFe trilayer. As the exposed area expanded, the intensity of opposite MR peak increased. The direction of exchange anisotropy in the partially reversed region can be restored by local laser annealing under alternating magnetic field, even if its MR peak was reduced by the damage and interdiffusion. The magnetic new domain structures of the partially reversed region was generated by laser annealing near the exposed area.     

Theoretical limit of the minimal magnetization switching field and the optimal field pulse for Stoner particles

The theoretical limit of the minimal magnetization switching field and the optimal field pulse design for uniaxial Stoner particles are investigated. Two results are obtained. One is the existence of a theoretical limit of the smallest magnetic field out of all possible designs. It is shown that the limit is proportional to the damping constant in the weak damping regime and approaches the Stoner-Wohlfarth (SW) limit at large damping. For a realistic damping constant, this limit is more than 10 times smaller than that of so-called precessional magnetization reversal under a noncollinear static field. The other is on the optimal field pulse design: if the magnitude of a magnetic field does not change, but its direction can vary during a reversal process, there is an optimal design that gives the shortest switching time. The switching time depends on the field magnitude, damping constant, and magnetic anisotropy.     

Microscopic nature of ferro- and antiferromagnetic interface coupling of uncompensated magnetic moments in exchange bias systems

Exchange bias in layered CoO/Fe structures is investigated by x-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity (XRMR) measurements. Element-specific hysteresis loops are obtained from x-ray magnetic circular dichroism effects in the XRMR spectra. Evidence is provided for the existence of different types of uncompensated moments in the antiferromagnetic material. Explanations are given for the microscopic nature of these moments and the complex exchange interactions that determine the magnetization reversal in exchange bias systems.     

Magnetization reversal of micropattern Fe bar array: Combination of vector and Bragg magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements

We report on a magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) investigation of alternating wide and narrow Fe bars, forming a two-dimensional periodic array. The magnetization reversal was studied by regular longitudinal Vector-MOKE in specular geometry as well as in Bragg-MOKE geometry, using the diffraction spots from the grating for hysteresis measurements. With Vector-MOKE a two-step switching process for the wide and narrow Fe bars is observed, indicative for a narrow switching field distribution in this array. In addition, hysteresis loops were determined as a function of the diffraction order for the hard and easy axis direction. The loops at different orders of diffraction can qualitatively and quantitatively be described by Fourier transformations of micromagnetic simulations.     

Magnetization reversal in CoPt-based hard–soft homocomposites

CoPt-based hard–soft sputtered bilayers with (1 1 1) texture have been produced by appropriate heat treatment of the bottom layer. Two samples with different degrees of chemical ordering of the hard layer are compared. The anisotropy of the hard layer determines its robustness against destabilization from the soft one. Detailed measurements of the soft layer minor hysteresis loop features as a function of the magnetic state of the hard layer are proposed as a means to study the nature of interfacial exchange interactions and the mechanism of magnetization reversal. When hard layer anisotropy is not robust enough, the reversed soft layer can induce irreversible changes to the magnetic structure at the interface leading to a decoupling of exchange field from the magnetic state of the hard layer.