Magnetic elements for switching magnetization magnetic force microscopy tips

Using combination of micromagnetic calculations and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) imaging we find optimal parameters for novel magnetic tips suitable for switching magnetization MFM. Switching magnetization MFM is based on two-pass scanning atomic force microscopy with reversed tip magnetization between the scans. Within the technique the sum of the scanned data with reversed tip magnetization depicts local atomic forces, while their difference maps the local magnetic forces. Here we propose the design and calculate the magnetic properties of tips suitable for this scanning probe technique. We find that for best performance the spin-polarized tips must exhibit low magnetic moment, low switching fields, and single-domain state at remanence. The switching field of such tips is calculated and optimum shape of the Permalloy elements for the tips is found. We show excellent correspondence between calculated and experimental results for Py elements.     

Spacer dependence effect in synthetic magnetic force microscopy tips

A series of magnetic force microscopy tips with the synthetic structure consisting of two CoCrPt layers separated by a nonmagnetic Ru layer, which have the same magnetic layers but different thickness of the Ru layer, have been fabricated by sputtering. By analyzing the magnetic force microscopy images taken from the magnetic patterns recorded on longitudinal media, the performance of the tips was found to vary with the Ru thickness in an alternate fashion between enhanced and weakened responses. This phenomenon can be explained by the Ru thickness dependence of the exchange coupling between the two ferromagnetic layers and the corresponding frequency response of the trilayer tip. Synthetic tips with superior performances have been obtained after the Ru thickness was optimized.     

Spatial and force resolution of magnetic force microscopy in current imaging

Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) can be used to image current distributions in current leads of sub-micron dimensions. Here we present a systematic study about the spatial and force resolution of such currents. In the case of force resolution, we studied the least measurable magnetic force of MFM for different sample currents. The analysis of images from parallel Al conducting plates are combined with those from force-distance curves and finite element calculations. Several interacting regimes between the magnetic tip and the currents are found and interpreted. It is shown that model calculations are necessary even for qualitative image interpretation. Then spatial resolution in the range of 100nm can well be obtained and quantitative studies of current distribution on widths of 10nm resolution are possible in special cases. The approach is demonstrated in imaging the current distribution in superconducting Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O _x single crystals. Presented at the VIII-th Symposium on Surface Physics, Třešt’ Castle, Czech Republic, June 28 – July 2, 1999. This work was supported in part by the Swiss Priority Program on Materials. The authors benefited greatly from discussions with D.A. Bonnell, B. Huey and C. Rüegg.     

Polymer tips for application of atomic force microscopy

A hydrophobic polymer tip for atomic force microscopy has been fabricated by two-photon adsorbed photopolymerization techniques and has been applied for the high resolution imaging of a hydrophilic metal surface. Using optimized photopolymerization conditions, we have succeeded in fabricating sub-100-nm sized polymer tips. This fabricating resolution of two-photon adsorbed photopolymerization is also confirmed by other supporting experiments. The imaging results show that the capillary-force-induced image distortion can be successfully removed by applying a pure hydrophobic polymer tip with a lateral resolution better than 5 nm, which is difficult to achieve with a commercial tip without any environmental control.     

交变力磁力显微镜动态成像技术的研究

近年来磁力显微镜(magnetic force microscopy,MFM)对动态磁场信号的测量与分析由于其特殊的工业要求和重要用途而受到广泛关注,本文旨在利用交变磁力对磁性探针的周期性调制发展一种交变力磁力显微镜技术,为磁信息存储工业等重要领域关键技术的发展提供新型的有力的工具.与目前标准MFM采用的设计思路不同,本文的关键在于合理利用MFM频率调制机理,优化设计MFM磁性探针,并且引入动态信号处理模块,实现对交变磁场信号的MFM成像.为达到这些目的,需要从理论上研究MFM探针的频率调制机理,并由实验上设计出动态信号提取模块,二者相辅结合优化设计出具有动态信号测试和分析能力的交变力磁力显微镜技术,由此来测量和解释纳米尺度磁畴结构.     

Chemical resolution at ionic crystal surfaces using dynamic atomic force microscopy with metallic tips

We demonstrate that well prepared and characterized Cr tips can provide atomic resolution on the bulk NaCl(001) surface with dynamic atomic force microscopy in the noncontact regime at relatively large tip-sample separations. At these conditions, the surface chemical structure can be resolved yet tip-surface instabilities are absent. Our calculations demonstrate that chemical identification is unambiguous, because the interaction is always largest above the anions. This conclusion is generally valid for other polar surfaces, and can thus provide a new practical route for straightforward interpretation of atomically resolved images.     

Using the dissipation mode in high resolution atomic force microscopy

The possibility of using the dissipation mode in high-resolution atomic force microscopy is demonstrated. By the dissipation mode we mean the dynamic mode in which the cantilever oscillates at a resonance frequency and the oscillation amplitude serves as a signal of the feedback tracing a distance to the surface. The possibility of obtaining molecular resolution when scanning in air is shown. The procedure of choosing the optimum scanning parameters is considered.     

Dynamic susceptibility of thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

We investigate the spin dynamics related to the Gilbert damping constant in infinite continuous thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), based on numerical and analytic approaches. We obtain the dynamic susceptibility of the infinite continuous thin films with various PMA energies by using micromagnetic simulations with periodic boundary conditions. These results are compared with the analytic solution that we derived from the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. Based on our numerical and analytic studies, we support the physical analysis for results in the experimental determination of the Gilbert damping constant for PMA materials.     

自旋轨道矩调控的垂直磁各向异性四态存储器结构

利用氧化钽缓冲层对垂直各向异性钴铂多层膜磁性的影响,构想并验证了一种四态存储器单元.存储器器件包含两个区域,其中一区域的钴铂多层膜[Pt(3 nm)/Co(0.47 nm)/Pt(1.5 nm)]直接生长在热氧化硅衬底上,另一个区域在磁性膜和衬底之间沉积了一层氧化钽作为缓冲层[TaO x(0.3 nm)/Pt(3 nm)/Co(0.47 nm)/Pt(1.5 nm)],缓冲层导致两个区域的垂直磁各向异性不同.在固定的水平磁场下对器件施加与磁场同向的电流,由于电流引起的自旋轨道耦合力矩,两个区域的磁化取向均会发生翻转,且拥有不同的临界翻转电流.改变通过器件导电通道的电流脉冲形式,器件的磁化状态可以在4个态之间切换.本文器件的结构为设计自旋轨道矩存储器件提供了新的思路.     

Hysteresis of two interacting magnetic pairs with inequivalent perpendicular anisotropy

We consider a model for magnetic memory that consists of strongly coupled dipolar or antiferromagnetic (AF) pairs with inequivalent perpendicular anisotropy _K1$K_1$ and _K2$K_2$. For appropriate parameter values, determined in this work, they have two inequivalent storage states with zero net magnetic moment. Both analytical and numerical calculations are performed, in some cases yielding different results because of relaxation effects (i.e., a dependence on the damping parameter α$\alpha$). Hysteresis loops for a wide variety of parameter values are obtained, both for the AF case and the dipole case. An Appendix gives analytic results for slightly non-collinear spins in an applied field, which were used to test the numerical results.     

Micromagnetic study of effect of tip-coating microstructure on the resolution of magnetic force microscopy

The properties of a magnetic force microscopy (MFM) tip are very important for high-resolution magnetic imaging. In this work, micromagnetic models of tips are set up to study the effect of tip-coating microstructure, especially the randomness of anisotropy on tip edge and tip end, on the resolution of MFM. The effective coating height and the resolution potential of tips with various microstructures and magnetic properties have been characterized by investigating the obtained signals from high-density continuous granular thin film disk media with a bit size of 8×16 nm² and bit-patterned media with a pattern period p of 50 nm. The magnetic moment distribution at the tip end should be perpendicular to the sample to realize a ‘magnetically sharp’ tip, which explains further the improved resolution in the recent experimental reports. Tips with well-controlled grain structure and magnetic anisotropy of coating materials can be applied to both high-density thin film disk media and bit-patterned media.     

Dynamic self-organization of magnetic domains in amorphous films with perpendicular anisotropy

Dynamic self-organization of magnetic domains is observed in amorphous gadolinium-cobalt films in narrow temperature intervals on both sides of the magnetic compensation point. Spiral dynamic domains form in a limited range of ac magnetic field amplitudes and frequencies. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 66, No. 11, 688–692 (10 December 1997)     

In situ magnetic hysteresis measurement of magnetic tips in magnetic force microscope

In situ magnetic hysteresis measurements of magnetic tips in a magnetic force microscope (MFM) are demonstrated using alternating gradient force magnetometry. The measured magnetic moments of MFM tips are estimated in the range from 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁵ emu by this technique and the whole MFM tips in cantilevers are considered to be measured from the value of measured magnetic moments. The relationship between the magnetic hysteresis loops of MFM tips and those of coated magnetic films is discussed.     

Nonmonotonic effects of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy on current-driven vortex wall motions in magnetic nanostripes

In a magnetic nanostripe, the effects of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) on the current-driven horizontal motion of vortex wall along the stripe and the vertical motion of the vortex core are studied by micromagnetic simulations.The results show that the horizontal and vertical motion can generally be monotonously enhanced by PMA. However, when the current is small, a nonmonotonic phenomenon for the horizontal motion is found. Namely, the velocity of the horizontal motion firstly decreases and then increases with the increase of the PMA. We find that the reason for this is that the PMA can firstly increase and then decrease the confining force induced by the confining potential energy. In addition, the PMA always enhances the driving force induced by the current.     

垂直取向FePt/Ag纳米颗粒薄膜的结构和磁性

用磁控溅射法在单晶MgO(100)基片上制备了［FePt 2 nm/Ag dnm］₁₀多层膜， 经真空热处理后，得到具有高矫顽力的垂直取向L1₀-FePt/Ag颗粒膜.x射线衍射结 果表明，在250 ℃的热基片上溅射，当Ag层厚度d=3—11 nm时，FePt颗粒具有很好的［001］取向，随着Ag层厚度的增加，FePt颗粒尺寸减小.［FePt 2 nm/Ag 9 nm］₁₀经过6 00 ℃真空热处理15 min后，颗粒大小仅约8 nm，垂直矫顽力达到692 kA/m.这种无磁耦合作用的颗粒膜，适合用作超高密度的垂直磁记录介质. 关键词： 磁控溅射 垂直磁记录 纳米颗粒膜 0-FePt/Ag')" href="#">L1₀-FePt/Ag     

Characterization of high‐density bit‐patterned media using ultra‐high resolution magnetic force microscopy

Bit‐patterned media at one terabit‐per‐square‐inch (Tb/in²) recording density require a feature size of about 12 nm. The fabrication and characterization of such magnetic nanostructures is still a challenge. In this Letter, we show that magnetic dots can be resolved at 10 nm spacing using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) tips coated with a magnetic film possessing a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). Compared to MFM tips with no special magnetic anisotropy, MFM tips with PMA can resolve the bits clearly, because of a smaller magnetic interaction volume, enabling a simple technique for characterizing fine magnetic nanostructures. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)