Current-induced magnetization reversal in high magnetic fields in Co/Cu/Co nanopillars

Current-induced magnetization dynamics in Co/Cu/Co trilayer nanopillars (approximately 100 nm in diameter) have been studied experimentally at low temperatures for large applied fields perpendicular to the layers. At 4.2 K an abrupt and hysteretic increase in resistance is observed at high current densities for one polarity of the current, comparable to the giant magnetoresistance effect observed at low fields. A micromagnetic model that includes a spin-transfer torque suggests that the current induces a complete reversal of the thin Co layer to alignment antiparallel to the applied field--that is, to a state of maximum magnetic energy.     

Magnetic phase transition in Co/Cu/Ni/Cu(100) and Co/Fe/Ni/Cu(100)

Magnetic phase transitions in coupled magnetic sandwiches of Cu/Co/Cu/Ni/Cu(100) and Cu/Co/Fe/Ni/Cu(100) are investigated by photoemission electron microscopy. Element-specific magnetic domains are taken at room temperature to reveal the critical thickness at which the magnetic phase transition occurs. The results show that a coupled magnetic sandwich undergoes three types of magnetic phase transitions depending on the two ferromagnetic films' thickness. A phase diagram is constructed and explained in the process of constructing Monte Carlo simulations, which corroborate the experimental results.     

Shape and thickness effects on the magnetization reversal of Py/Cu/Co nanostructures

We present an experimental investigation of the magnetization reversal process in NiFe/Cu(10 nm)/Co circular and elliptical nano-elements with different thickness of the magnetic layers. The results obtained using element sensitive X-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS) were compared with the previous measurements showing that the dipolar interlayer coupling favours the antiparallel alignment of the two magnetization layers at remanance. In the case of circular shape, the increased thickness of the ferromagnetic layers stabilizes the antiparallel alignment of the layers over a wider field range. A similar effect, accompanied by a delay in the onset of the antiparallel alignment, is observed in the case of elliptical nano-elements and applying the external field along the longer axis of the elements, due to the additional shape anisotropy.     

Minimum fluctuations in nanostructures

The properties of the Bose gas in traps have been experimentally and theoretically investigated. The main results of these investigations were discussed in L. Pitaevskii’s review. In this study, we consider excitations of low-lying levels in a disk-shaped magnetic trap. In contrast to the macrostructure, the excitation spectrum in the traps is a set of quasi-Bogolyubov modes with the gaps, which can be interpreted as a discrete breathing mode spectrum.     

Magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of epitaxial Co/Cu/Co trilayers on Si(111)

Giant magnetoresistance of the epitaxial Co/Cu/Co trilayers grown on vicinal Si(111) was determined as a function of Cu spacer coverage in the range from 0 to 7 ML. The first maximum of giant magnetoresistance and antiferromagnetic coupling was detected at 3.0 ML coverage of the Cu spacer. The portion of antiferromagnetic coupling in the first antiferromagnetic maximum was estimated as 17%. 3D growth mode of the Cu spacer leads to the simultaneous occurrence of the ferromagnetically and antiferromagnetically coupled areas between the Co layers.     

The role of the diffusion of dimers in the formation of Co nanostructures embedded into Cu(100) surface

The formation of embedded Co nanostructures is investigated on the atomic scale byperforming self-learning kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. The atomic processes responsiblefor the formation of small nanostructures are identified. We demonstrate the specific roleof the diffusion of dimers at 400 K. The diffusion of dimers leads to the acceleration ofthe time evolution and the decrease of the chain domination stage.     

Kerr-effect magnetometry of the single monolayer Co/Cu(001)

Experimental evidence is given for a four-fold in-plane magnetic anisotropy of the p(1×1) Co monolayer epitaxially grown on a Cu(001) substrate. Temperature dependent hysteresis curves show the magnetization remaining almost constant up to 400 K and the coercive field drastically increasing as the temperature is decreased.