Phase transitions of a spin-one alternating magnetic superlattice

We examine the critical behavior of a magnetic superlattice which made up of two magnetic materials, A and B. Using the effective field theory with a probability distribution technique that accounts for the single-site spin correlation, we derive the analytical equation for the Curie temperature of the superlattice which alternates as ABAB...AB. The dependence of the Curie temperature on the interface coupling strength J_ab and the layer number of the finite superlattice was calculated. The effects of the surface modification are also studied. Received 2 March 2001     

Low frequency and weakly nonlinear spin transport in ferromagnet/insulator single and double junctions

In this paper, we apply Büttiker's gauge invariant, charge conservation, nonlinear transport theory to explore the spin-polarized tunneling of ferromagnet/insulator (semiconductor) single and double junctions. The Green function of spin-polarized tunneling is calculated by the tight-binding approximation method. The energy and the angle (between the molecular field and the vertical axis) dependences of the weakly nonlinear dc transport coefficient and the linear low frequency ac transport coefficient are investigated. The ac tunneling magnetoresistance is also discussed. Received 1st September 2000 and Received in final form 5 December 2000     

In situ resistivity and magnetoresistance studies of Co/Au(111) single layers and bilayers

We report here on resistance and magnetoresistance (MR) studies of ultrathin Co/Au(111) single sandwiches and bilayers with perpendicular magnetization. Resistance of the films was measured in situ in ultrahigh vacuum, during depositions and as a function of a perpendicular applied magnetic field. A large MR variation with the thickness of Au coverage was observed and compared to calculations. The coercive field of the Co films shows a drastic variation with the Au coverage thickness, which reflects the theoretical anisotropy variation. It was measured as a function of temperature. For the first time, the effect of interlayer interaction on the resistivity of a Co bilayer during the growth of Co top layer, is evidenced and compared to calculations. Finally, hysteresis loops of strongly antiferromagnetically coupled bilayers are investigated. Received 3 November 1998 and Received in final form 18 January 1999     

Magnetic properties of (Co Pd ) superstructures on Pd(100) and Pd(111)

The magnetic properties of (Co_nPd_m)_r superstructures on Pd(100) and Pd(111) are evaluated using the fully-relativistic spin-polarized screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method. It is found that only in the case of a Pd(111) substrate such superstructures exhibit perpendicular magnetism, while on a Pd(100) substrate the magnetization is oriented in-plane. Also investigated is the effect of interdiffusion in repeated superstructures. By using the inhomogeneous coherent potential approximation (CPA) for layered systems the effect of ordering into (repeated) superstructures can be described in an ab-initio-like manner. It is found that already small amounts of interdiffusion can be decisive for the actual value of the magnetic anisotropy energy. Received 3 November 1999 and Received in final form 18 January 2000     

Interfacial polarisation effect on the interlayer couplings in Co/Rh sandwiches

The structural, magnetic and transport properties of Co/Rh sandwiches grown by ultra high vacuum evaporation and sputtering have been studied. High-energy electron diffraction observations during the growth reveal that both Co and Rh layers have been stabilised in the (111) fcc structure for the evaporated sandwiches. X-ray measurements performed on sputtered samples show a predominant fcc polycrystalline structure of the stacks with a preferential (111) texture. Magnetisation and magnetoresistance measurements show a very strong antiferromagnetic exchange coupling for thin Rh layers, reaching for 4.8? Rh, the strongest ever observed in exchange coupled systems. This value is in good agreement with the value of obtained by ab initio calculations for Co/Rh (hcp) superlattices. This is explained by the magnetic nature of the Co/Rh interfaces. Indeed, the variation of the measured saturation magnetisation as a function of the Co layer thickness shows no evidence of Co moment reduction for the Co atoms located at the interfaces, even for the very thin layers. The value of the preserved magnetic moments of the cobalt atoms at the interfaces is confirmed by ab initio calculations for Co/Rh superlattices taking the intermixing into account. Received: 18 February 1998 / Received in final form: 30 April 1998 / Accepted: 29 May 1998     

Effect of the structural quality of the buffer on the magnetoresistance and the exchange coupling in sputtered Co/Cu sandwiches

The effect of the structural quality of the buffer stack on the structural properties, giant magnetoresistance (GMR) and the quality of the antiferromagnetic coupling has been investigated for Co/Cu/Co sandwiches prepared by DC-magnetron sputtering. Three kinds of buffers were employed: type A: Cr(6 nm)/Co(0.8 nm)/Cu(10 nm), type B: Fe(6 nm)/Co(0.8 nm)/Cu(10 nm) and type C: Cr(4 nm)/Fe(3 nm)/Co(0.8 nm)/Cu(10 nm). For B and C type buffers, the antiferromagnetic alignment is very interesting at zero field with a coupling strength larger than 0.4 erg/cm² and a GMR signal reaching 5% at room temperature. However, for the A type buffer the antiferromagnetic coupling completely disappears, while the GMR drops to about 0.8%. X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have been performed in order to understand the origin of the observed difference in the magnetic properties. The results show a strong difference in the average surface roughness, 1.15 nm and 0.35 nm, respectively for the A and C types buffers, and demonstrate that the quality of the surface of the buffer is the key to optimize both the GMR and the indirect exchange coupling. Received 11 July 2000     

Dipolar coupling effect in magnetic bilayer system

Equilibrium micromagnetic structures in a bilayer system composed of two thin cobalt films separated by a non magnetic spacer are systematically analysed. These 2D magnetization distributions are obtained by numerical computations according to different set of magnetic and geometric parameters. The coupling effect due to the dipolar long range interaction (or stray-field effect) between the two Co layers is studied through the evolution of the magnetic pattern in the stack with or without an applied field and compared to a continuous film of same thickness. Special attention is paid to the hysteresis process in a bilayer. Even though the general aspect of the magnetization distribution looks like a Landau-Lifshitz structure, the absence of any core in the vortex of the magnetic structure is analysed in relation to a possible disappearence of (topological) hysteresis. Received 12 December 2001     

Interlayer exchange coupling: Preasymptotic corrections

In the asymptotic limit, the interlayer exchange coupling decays as D^-2, where D is the spacer thickness. A systematic procedure for calculating the preasymptotic corrections, i.e., the terms of order D^-n with ,is presented. The temperature dependence of the preasymptotic corrections is calculated. The results are used to discuss the preasymptotic corrections for the Co/Cu/Co(001) system. Received 7 January 1999     

Micromagnetic structure in multilayer films with moderate perpendicular anisotropy

Micromagnetic simulations have been performed in order to obtain deeper insight into the domain structures within multilayer films, as they are expected to differ from those of single films. These 2D calculations have been done in the case of multilayers exhibiting a moderate perpendicular anisotropy, with no indirect exchange coupling between the magnetic layers, where a “weak stripe" domain structure develops. First, these results are compared quantitatively to the very detailed experimental data available in the literature on the (Co/Au)_N system. More generally, the nucleation of a stripe pattern in multilayers is discussed as a function of the magnetic parameters and the number of magnetic layers in the stack. Compared to a single film, two main differences appear in the equilibrium domain period and the magnetization profiles. The physical origin of these effects is discussed. Received 12 January 2001 and Received in final form 15 May 2001     

Spin-dependent tunneling in nanostructures consisting of magnetic barriers

We study the spin-dependent transport properties of the nanostructures consisting of realistic magnetic barriers produced by the deposition of ferromagnetic stripes on heterostructures. It is shown that, only in the nanostructures with symmetric magnetic field with respect to the magnetic-modulation direction, electrons exhibit a considerable spin-polarization. It is also shown that the degree of the electron spin polarization is greatly dependent on the ferromagnetic stripe and its position relative to the 2DEG. A much larger electron-spin polarization can be obtained by properly fabricating the ferromagnetic stripe and by adjusting its distance above the 2DEG. Received 27 December 2001 and Received in final form 13 March 2002 Published online 25 June 2002     

Josephson effect through a ferromagnetic layer

We report transport measurements on Superconductor/Ferromagnet/Superconductor (S/F/S) junctions: Nb/Al/Gd/Al/Nb where gadolinium (Gd) is a weakly polarized ferromagnet. A sizeable critical current I _c is observed in the I(V) characteristics. This current can be modulated by a weak magnetic field, as expected for a Josephson current. With these experiments, we establish that superconducting coherent transport survives across a small ferromagnetic layer. The penetration depth of Cooper pairs in Gd has been measured. An extensive study of the Josephson critical current in temperature for different thicknesses of magnetic compounds is presented. A comparison of transport measurements with S/N/S junction is given through measurements made on Nb/Al/Y/Al/Nb, where yttrium (Y) is used as non magnetic rare earth metal. Received 20 September 2000 and Received in final form 22 February 2001     

Phase transitions sequence in pyrochlore Cd2Nb2O7 studied by IR reflectivity

The infrared reflectivity of Cd₂Nb₂O₇ single crystal was studied in the temperature interval of 10-540 K, together with complementary dielectric measurements. A ferroelectric soft mode was revealed above the ferroelectric phase transition at T _c = 196 K coupled with a central-mode type dispersion in the near-millimetre range. This proves the mixed displacive and order-disorder nature of the transition. Below T _c many new modes were detected due to lowering of the symmetry, especially below the previously suggested incommensurate transition at 85 K. Discussion of the possible phase transitions based on symmetry considerations is presented with the conclusion that the ferroelectric transition is proper with the F_1u symmetry of the order parameter, whereas the intermediate ferroelastic transition is improper and triggered by the coupling with the ferroelectric order parameter. Received 17 July 2000     

Phase diagrams of Ising films with competing interactions

The axial next-nearest-neighbour Ising (ANNNI) model of finite thickness is studied. Using mean-field theory, Monte Carlo simulations, and low-temperature analyses, phase diagrams are determined, with a distinct phase diagram for each film thickness. The robustness of the phase diagrams against varying the couplings in the surface layers is analysed. Received 19 March 2002 and Received in final form 2 April 2002 Published online 6 June 2002     

Broad-band dielectric spectroscopy of Ba 2NaNb 5O 15 single crystal

Barium sodium niobate (BNN) single crystals are studied by IR spectroscopy, time-domain THz transmission spectroscopy, HF coaxial wave-guide technique and LF dielectric spectroscopy to cover the frequency range 10²-10¹⁴ Hz in a wide temperature interval. The dielectric response parallel and perpendicular to the polar c-axis is discussed. The ferroelectric transition at T _c = 830 K is driven by a relaxational soft mode coupled with another central-mode type relaxation which both gradually disappear on cooling in the ferroelectric phase. Below T _i the parameters of the expected IR active amplitudon were estimated. The low-temperature permittivity increase on cooling for the field direction has been explained by an incipient proper ferroelectric-ferroelastic transition driven by an IR and Raman active B₂-symmetry soft mode. Received 24 August 2002 Published online 19 December 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: buixader@fzu.cz     

Phase transition and random-field induced domain wall response of SrTi O 3

The dielectric permittivity ε^′ - i of SrTi ¹⁸O ₃ (STO18) is studied under a dc electric field E as a function of the temperature, T. In ε^′ vs. T, a double-peak is found when 0 < E < 30 KV/m. While the peak at high-T is attributed to the smeared ferroelectric phase transition, the low-T one is induced by domain wall motion. The transverse Ising model including an external homogeneous and quenched random-fields is successfully used to describe both the smeared phase transition and the domain wall response in the low-T domain state. The calculations are in good agreement with the experimental results. Received 4 January 2002 / Received in final form 25 March 2002 Published online 19 July 2002     

Use of the chemical potential for a limited number of fermions with a degenerate groundstate

A full analysis of domain structure using a micromagnetic model is developed in order to get a clear insight into the behaviour of transverse initial susceptibility as a function of dc applied field for thin films and bilayers exhibiting both in-plane and perpendicular anisotropy. The numerical simulations are in good agreement with available experimental results in case of single layers with the so-called stripe domain pattern while some predictions are done for bilayers. As the main result, it is shown that in low field, the transverse initial susceptible cannot be interpreted without the knowledge of the static domain pattern while, above saturation, it is only affected by the in-plane anisotropy. Received 10 October 2002 Published online 4 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: ml@lpmtm.univ-paris13.fr RID="b" ID="b"UMR CNRS 8634     

Magnetic Thomas-Fermi-Weizsäcker model for quantum dots: A comparison with Kohn-Sham ground states

The magnetic extension of the Thomas-Fermi-Weizs?cker kinetic energy is used within density-functional-theory to numerically obtain the ground state densities and energies of two-dimensional quantum dots. The results are thoroughly compared with the microscopic Kohn-Sham ones in order to assess the validity of the semiclassical method. Circular as well as deformed systems are considered. Received 26 October 2000 and Received in final form 14 December 2000     

Size dependence of dielectric properties and structural metastability in ferroelectrics

The size effect of the dielectric properties and the barrier height was investigated in the ferroelectric solid solution Ba_xSr_1-xTiO₃ system. The decrease of the grain size causes the suppression of the ferroelectricity, and the increase of the relaxation frequency. Barrier heights increase with increasing grain size. The result is analogous to magnetic phase transitions in nanocrystals and other solid-solid phase transitions in nanocrystals. It suggests a general rule that may be of use in the discovery of new metastable phases. An explanation of this phenomenon was given by an electric potential model that agrees well with the experimental results. For Ba_xSr_1-xTiO₃ system, the decrease of xcauses the decrease of the barrier height. Received 3 August 1998 and Received in final form 22 November 1998     

High-frequency dynamics of Co/Fe multilayers with stripe domains

Within the framework of two-dimensional (2D) numerical micromagnetic simulations, the equilibrium magnetization configuration and the high-frequency (0.1–30 GHz) linear response of Co/Fe multilayers have been investigated in detail. Due to the perpendicular anisotropy of Co layers, a stripe domain pattern can develop through the whole multilayer, the characteristics of which depend on the magnitude of the perpendicular anisotropy, the respective thicknesses of Co and Fe layers and the number of Co/Fe bilayers in the stack. One of the most striking features associated with the layering effect is the ripening aspect of the static magnetization configuration across the multilayers which induces complicated dynamic susceptibility spectra including surface modes and volume modes strongly confined within the inner Fe layers. The effect of the cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Fe layers and the influence of a nonuniform perpendicular magnetic anisotropy within the Co layers on the static and dynamic magnetic properties of Co/Fe multilayers are then analyzed quantitatively.