Current-induced excitations in single cobalt ferromagnetic layer nanopillars

Current-induced excitations in Cu/Co/Cu single ferromagnetic layer nanopillars ( approximately 50 nm in diameter) have been studied experimentally as a function of Co layer thickness at low temperatures for large applied fields perpendicular to the layers. For asymmetric junctions current-induced excitations are observed at high current densities for only one polarity of the current and are absent at the same current densities in symmetric junctions. These observations confirm recent predictions of spin-transfer torque induced spin-wave excitations in single layer junctions with a strong asymmetry in the spin accumulation in the leads.     

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.     

Co/Fe Multilayers as Planar Magnetic Nanocomposites

Co/Fe multilayers were electron beam evaporated in ultra-high vacuum and analyzed by Alternating Gradient Force Magnetometry, Magnetic Force Microscopy, Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The multilayer of 10 nm Co and 30 nm Fe layer thickness showed a single-phase magnetic behavior because of a strong exchange coupling established between the layers. The system exhibits stripe domains which were correlated to the presence of a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The study performed on multilayers where Co was intercalated by very thin ⁵⁷Fe layers showed that the interfaces were very clean and sharp.     

Thickness dependent magnetization dynamics of perpendicular anisotropy Co/Pd multilayer films

We present the measurements of the picosecond magnetization dynamics of Co/Pd multilayer films. The dynamic magnetization properties of sputtered multilayer films were analyzed as a function of Co layer thicknesses and applied bias field. Both the eigenfrequencies of the magnetization precession in the multilayers and the associated Gilbert damping exhibit extreme sensitivity to the magnetic layer thickness on an atomic monolayer scale. The eigenfrequency increases more than threefold when the Co thickness decreases from 7.5 to 2.8 Å, mainly due to the changes in effective saturation magnetization and perpendicular anisotropy constant. A concomitant 2.6-fold increase in the damping of the oscillations is observed and attributed to stronger interface dissipation in thinner Co layers. In addition, we introduce a quasi-1D micromagnetic model in which the multilayer stack is described as a one-dimensional chain of macrospins that represent each Co layer. This model yields excellent agreement with the observed resonance frequencies without any free parameters, while being much simpler and faster than full 3D micromagnetic modeling.     

Current-driven resonances in magnetic multilayers

We describe complex variations in resistance of a Co/Cu multilayer, generated by injection of an adjustable dc current density ( approximately 10(9) A/cm(2)) via a point contact. We attribute these variations to coupling of current-induced spin waves to lattice vibrations, leading especially to current-driven resonant excitations of phonons. We propose a simple model to explain the observed structured behavior of the variations as a function of the applied current and magnetic field.     

Surfactant induced symmetric and thermally stable interfaces in Cu/Co multilayers

In this work we studied Ag surfactant induced growth of Cu/Co multilayers. The Cu/Co multilayers were deposited using Ag surfactant by the ion beam sputtering technique. It was found that Ag surfactant balances the asymmetry between the surface free energies of Cu and Co. As a result, the Co-on-Cu and Cu-on-Co interfaces become sharp and symmetric and thereby improve the thermal stability of the multilayer. On the basis of obtained results, a mechanism leading to symmetric and stable interfaces in Cu/Co multilayers is discussed.     

50~110 nm波段高反射率多层膜的设计与制备

阐述了50~110 nm强吸收波段亚四分之一波长多层膜的设计方法.这种膜系是由强吸收材料叠加而成，每层膜光学厚度小于四分之一个波长.与常规周期多层膜相比，这种膜系更适用于提高强吸收波段的反射率.利用该方法设计了50 nm处高反射多层膜，并以此为初始条件通过Levenberg-Marquart优化方法完成了50~110 nm强吸收波段宽带高反射率Si/W/Co多层膜的设计，其平均反射率达到45%.采用直流磁控溅射方法制备了Si/W/Co多层膜,用X射线衍射仪(XRD)对膜层结构进行了测试，测试结果表明制作出的多层膜结构与设计结构基本相符.     

Quantum Anomalous Hall Multilayers Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Quantum anomalous Hall(QAH) effect is a quantum Hall effect that occurs without the need of external magnetic field. A system composed of multiple parallel QAH layers is an effective high Chern number QAH insulator and the key to the applications of the dissipationless chiral edge channels in low energy consumption electronics. Such a QAH multilayer can also be engineered into other exotic topological phases such as a magnetic Weyl semimetal with only one pair of Weyl points. This work reports the first experimental realization of QAH multilayers in the superlattices composed of magnetically doped(Bi,Sb)_2Te_3 topological insulator and Cd Se normal insulator layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The obtained multilayer samples show quantized Hall resistance h/N_e~2, where h is Planck's constant, e is the elementary charge and N is the number of the magnetic topological insulator layers, resembling a high Chern number QAH insulator. The QAH multilayers provide an excellent platform to study various topological states of matter.     

Antisymmetric magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy

While magnetoresistance (MR) has generally been found to be symmetric in applied field in nonmagnetic or magnetic metals, we have observed antisymmetric MR in Co/Pt multilayers. Simultaneous domain imaging and transport measurements show that the antisymmetric MR is due to the appearance of domain walls that run perpendicular to both the magnetization and the current, a geometry existing only in materials with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. As a result, the extraordinary Hall effect gives rise to circulating currents in the vicinity of the domain walls that contributes to the MR. The antisymmetric MR and extraordinary Hall effect have been quantitatively accounted for by a theoretical model.     

Exchange couplings in magnetic films

Recent advances in the study of exchange couplings in magnetic films are introduced.To provide a comprehensive understanding of exchange coupling,we have designed different bilayers,trilayers and multilayers,such as anisotropic hard/soft-magnetic multilayer films,ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic trilayers,[Pt/Co]/NiFe/NiO heterostructures,Co/NiO and Co/NiO/Fe trilayers on an anodic aluminum oxide(AAO) template.The exchange-coupling interaction between soft-and hard-magnetic phases,interlayer and interfacial exchange couplings and magnetic and magnetotransport properties in these magnetic films have been investigated in detail by adjusting the magnetic anisotropy of ferromagnetic layers and by changing the thickness of the spacer layer,ferromagnetic layer,and antiferromagnetic layer.Some particular physical phenomena have been observed and explained.     

First principles studies of Fe/Co superlattices and multilayers with bcc (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) orientations

The layer resolved magnetic moments and magnetic anisotropy energy of Fe/Co superlattices and multilayers with bcc (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) orientations obtained from first principles simulations are reported here. The magnetic moment of Fe atoms are found to depend on the geometry, coordination number and proximity to Co atoms, whereas that of Co remains almost constant in the superlattices and multilayers. Mixing of atoms at the interface resulted in enhanced Fe magnetic moment while that of Co is unaffected. The magnetic anisotropy energy in superlattices and multilayers are found to be larger than the corresponding values of bulk counterparts. Calculated easy axis of magnetization is in the plane for all superlattice compositions considered in the study, while that in multilayers, changes with crystalline orientation and thickness of Co layers.     

Planar Hall effect in electrodeposited CoCu/Cu multilayer

Electrodeposited CoCu/Cu multilayers were investigated by measuring both anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) and planar Hall effect (PHE) simultaneously. Studies have been carried out on a [Co(3 nm)/Cu(4 nm)]₅₀ multilayer sample, where a maximum of ?8.8 % GMR was observed at room temperature. A direct comparison of AMR and PHE output has been made both as a function of field and its relative orientation with respect to the current. Marked changes in PHE loops were observed at different angles (between magnetic field and applied current) whereas no noticeable changes could be found for AMR results. Such PHE outputs are the manifestations of complex spin reorganization due to strong antiferromagnetic-coupling between adjacent magnetic layers. In case of angular dependence output, when the applied field is less than the coercive field, the PHE output shows a deviation from the Sin2θ dependence that can be correlated to the domain wall propagation.     

Suppression of incommensurate spin-density waves in thin epitaxial Cr(110) layers of a V/Cr multilayer

We observed a complete suppression of the incommensurate spin-density wave in thin Cr layers of a V/Cr multilayer in a temperature range from 550 K down to 2 K. The (110)-oriented V/Cr multilayer consisting of 30 nm thick Cr layers and 5 nm thick V layers was investigated by neutron and X-ray diffraction (XRD). From the XRD experiments we were able to determine that the epitaxial strain of the Cr layers in the V/Cr multilayer is about 90% larger than in earlier studied Fe/Cr(110) multilayers. That leads to a completely different magnetic phase diagram as revealed by neutron diffraction experiments. The existence of the commensurate antiferromagnetic structure in the Cr layers can be observed in the whole temperature range without a phase transition to an incommensurate spin-density wave at lower temperatures. In order to elucidate the proximity effects further we also performed experiments in an external magnetic field. Up to a field of 4 T we found no change in the magnetic structure of the Cr films whereas in earlier experiments on Fe/Cr(110) multilayers we could observe a strong perpendicular pinning of the Cr polarization to the Fe magnetization.Received: 28 August 2003, Published online: 8 December 2003PACS: 75.30.Fv spin-density waves - 75.70.-i magnetic properties of thin films, surfaces, and interfaces - 61.12.-q Neutron diffraction and scattering     

Current-driven magnetization reversal and spin-wave excitations in Co /Cu /Co pillars

Using thin film pillars approximately 100 nm in diameter, containing two Co layers of different thicknesses separated by a Cu spacer, we examine the process by which the scattering from the ferromagnetic layers of spin-polarized currents flowing perpendicular to the layers causes controlled reversal of the moment direction in the thin Co layer. The well-defined geometry permits a quantitative analysis of this spin-transfer effect, allowing tests of competing theories for the mechanism and also new insight concerning magnetic damping. When large magnetic fields are applied, the spin-polarized current no longer fully reverses the magnetic moment, but instead stimulates spin-wave excitations.     

Electric current control of creation and annihilation of sub-100 nm magnetic bubbles examined by full-field transmission soft X-ray microscopy

The effect of electric current pulses on a sub-100 nm magnetic bubble state in a symmetric Pt/Co multilayer was directly observed using a full-field transmission soft X-ray microscope (MTXM). Field-induced evolution of the magnetic stripe domains into isolated bubbles with their sizes down to 100 nm was imaged under varying external magnetic fields. Electric current pulses were then applied to the created magnetic bubbles, and it was observed that the bubbles could be either created or annihilated by the current pulse depending on the strength of applied magnetic field. The results suggest that the Joule heating plays a critical role in the formation and/or elimination of the bubbles and skyrmions. Finally, the schematic phase diagram for the creation and annihilation of bubbles is presented, suggesting an optimized scheme with the combination of magnetic field and electric current necessary to utilize skyrmions in the practical devices.     

Magnetization reversal and domains structures in (Co/Ni/Co/Pt) multilayers

Multilayers of [Co/Ni(t_Ni)/Co/Pt]_×4 are investigated for different Ni insertion layer thicknesses. The resulting magnetic properties and magnetic domain structures are compared with [Co/Ni]_×8 multilayers. As determined by magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy and a vibrating sample magnetometer measurements, all multilayers exhibited a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. It is found that the nucleation field and magnetic coercivity of [Co/Ni(t)/Co/Pt]_×4 multilayers are lower than (Co/Ni)_×8 and decreased with Ni thickness. Magnetization decay measurements reveal that these multilayers did not show an exponential decay behavior as was observed in rare earth transition metal alloys. Very narrow wires will remain stables for several hours even with an applied magnetic field closer to the coercivity. Insertion of very thin Ni in (Co/Pt) multilayers offers a good way to optimize the magnetic properties of the material and adjust the domain size for nanowire-based devices.     

Magnetic transition in Co/(Gd–Co) multilayers

[Co/Gd_0.36Co_0.64]₄/Co multilayers with Co termination layer have been prepared by rf sputtering. They form macroscopic ferrimagnets with a compensation temperature (T_comp) determined by the thickness ratio of the layers. In low fields the magnetization of Co and Gd–Co layers are along the axis of the applied field. Increasing field makes the moments of both the Co and Gd–Co layers deviate from the axis of the field giving rise to a transition into a twisted state. These magnetic transitions were studied by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), magneto-optic Kerr effect and magnetoresistance measurements at various temperatures. The nucleation and evolution of surface- and bulk-twisted magnetic states were also observed in these multilayers.     

Calculation of critical states of superconducting multilayers based on numerical solution of the Ginzburg-Landau equations for superconducting plates

Numerical methods are used to analyze the Ginzburg-Landau equations for a superconducting plate carrying transport current in a magnetic field. Critical current is calculated as a function of the applied magnetic field strength for superconducting plates with different thicknesses. The relations between the field dependence of critical current and the distributions of order parameter, magnetic field, and supercurrent in a plate are analyzed. The field-dependent critical currents computed for plates are used to determine the critical current as a function of the applied magnetic field strength and local magnetic field and current distributions for multilayers in parallel magnetic fields. The constituent superconducting layers are assumed to interact only via magnetic field. A simple method is proposed for analyzing the critical states of multilayers in magnetic fields of arbitrary strength, based on elementary transformations of the critical current-density distribution over individual layers in zero applied magnetic field. The method can be used to analyze experimental results.     

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism study of the induced spin polarization of Cu in Co/Cu and Fe/Cu multilayers

We present an x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study of Co/Cu and Fe/Cu multilayers, finding that the Cu atoms in these structures exhibit an induced magnetic moment in the d shell. The average Cu spin moment is shown to fall-off inversely with the thickness of the Cu layer. Further, for comparable Cu layer thicknesses, the Cu moments in Fe/Cu and Co/Cu multilayers are found to be nearly equal, despite the fact that the Cu layers in the Co/Cu multilayers are shown to be fee while those in the Fe/Cu structures are bcc. These observations suggest that the induced moment is primarily situated at the Co/Cu and Fe/Cu interfaces and is resultant from short range chemical hybridization between the ferromagnetic and Cu atoms. Results from a local spin density functional theory are presented and found to be in excellent agreement with experimental observations. These results indicate that the Cu d electrons play a central role in mediating the exchange coupling between successive ferromagnetic layers.     

Mean free path effects on the current perpendicular to the plane magnetoresistance of magnetic multilayers

We have carried out an experimental and theoretical study of the magnetoresistance MR(H) in the CPP (current perpendicular to the planes) mode for two types of magnetic multilayers that differ only in the ordering of the magnetic layers: [Co(10 A)/Cu(200 A)/Co(60 A)/Cu(200 A)](N) and [Co(10 A)/Cu(200 A)](N)[Co(60 A)/Cu(200 A)](N). The series resistor model predicts that in the CPP mode MR(H) is independent of the ordering of the layers. Nevertheless, the measured MR(H) curves were found to be completely different for the two cases. Calculations based on a realistic band structure and the Kubo formula show that the results are a consequence of a long mean free path.