Analysis of the magnetic domain structure of electrodeposited nickel studied by neutron depolarization

A polarized monochromatic neutron beam is transmitted through a nickel sheet which has been electrodeposited onto a copper backing. The polarization direction of the incoming beam may be adjusted in three orthogonal directions, while the polarization after transmission through the sample can be analyzed in three independent directions. In this way a (3×3) depolarization matrix can be determined, of which the diagonal elements give the depolarization factors in the successive directions. At zero applied magnetic field and perpendicular transmission no depolarization is observed when the polarization vector is perpendicular to the sheet. The depolarization factors in the other two directions nearly follow a cosine dependence on the neutron wavelength. A structure consisting of domains with magnetization directions perpendicular to the sheet could explain the results. By varying the angle of transmission of the neutron beam with respect to the plane of the sheet one can determine the mean domain size and to some extent the nature of the distribution function of the domain size in the plane of the sheet. In addition, the depolarization has been studied as a function of a magnetic field applied in a direction in the plane of the sheet. The results are compared with magnetization measurements performed in a magnetic field applied in the same direction.     

Magnetization processes in the narrow domain structures of amorphous ferromagnetic alloys

The magnetization processes within the narrow domain laminae of amorphous ferromagnetic alloys have been investigated by means of the magneto-optical Kerr effect. Changes of the domain width of the closure domains by a magnetic field applied perpendicular to the laminae have been determined for the alloys Fe₈₀B₂₀ and Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₄B₆. These results are compared with theoretical calculations, assuming that wall displacements within the closure domains and rotations of the magnetization in the bulk domains take place simultaneously and a stray field free domain structure is developed. It turned out, that the closure domain structure on the surface of the sample vanishes at the same magnetic field where magnetic saturation is approached.     

Calculation of neutron depolarization in a uniaxial ferromagnet

We consider a ferromagnetic system which is divided into domains with magnetization directions perpendicular to the plane of the sheet. This system is traversed by a polarized thermal neutron beam with the direction of the polarization vector perpendicular to the magnetization directions of the domains. On the basis of a few assumptions, we calculate the depolarization as a function of the direction of the neutron beam with respect to the plane of the sheet and in terms of the distribution function of the domain sizes as seen in a direction in the plane of the sheet. The result of this calculation is compared to a computer simulation of the same problem and to an experimental result published earlier.     

Magnetization reversal in amorphous ribbons studied by neutron depolarization

The magnetization process in an amorphous ribbon with an easy axis perpendicular to its plane has been studied with the three-dimensional neutron depolarization technique. A simplified model of three layers is used, describing the magnetization distribution in the bulk and the two closure domain structures at the surface. Our analysis with this model gives direct experimental evidence that the magnetization process due to an applied magnetic field in the ribbon plane is dominantly accounted for by rotation processes of the local magnetization in the bulk. The influence of different types of closure domain structures on the magnetization distribution during the reversal process are discussed and compared with the experimental results.     

Magnetic properties of ThFe5

The easy direction of magnetization of the intermetallic compound ThFe₅ has been determined by means of the Mössbauer effect and X-ray diffraction. From a resemblance between the results of these techniques, magnetization, neutron depolarization and magnetic neutron diffraction it can be concluded that ThFe₅ has a complex ferrimagnetic moment arrangement with its easy axis of magnetization in the basal plane.     

Correlations in ferromagnetic domain structures studied by means of the neutron depolarization technique

The polarization change of a polarized neutron beam after transmission through a partly magnetized ferromagnetic material can be described by a (3 × 3) depoalarization matrix. An earlier interpretation of this matrix in terms of domain quantities such as the reduced mean magnetization m, the mean domain size δ and the mean square direction cosines γ_x, γ_y and γ_z of the inner magnetization within the domain is extended by taking into account different correlations occuring in real domain structures, such as the correlation between neighbouring domain orientations expressed by the mean direction cosine K between these orientations and the correlation between the domain dimensions and the domain magnetization orientation of an arbitrary domain. The latter correlation can be expressed by means of the quantities Δ and I`, where Δ is a measure for the average shape anisotropy of the domains with respect to the direction of domain magnetization, and Γ is a measure for the movement of domain walls during the magnetization process of the sample. The possibilities and limitations of the resulting theory on neutron depolarization experiments are discussed.     

Magnetization and magnetic excitations in HoAl2

The magnetization of HoAl₂ single crystals parallel and perpendicular to the applied field for three crystallographic directions has been measured between 4.2 and 300 K in fields up to 8 T. Further the spin wave excitations were investigated by inelastic neutron scattering at 5.2 K along <100>, <110> and <111> directions in reciprocal space. The results are interpreted consistently in terms of a cubic crystal field using a simple molecular field to calculate the magnetization and an isotropic Heisenberg exchange interaction to obtain the magnetic excitations.     

Observation and theory of strong stripe domains in amorphous sputtered FeB films

Domain structures in thin sputtered amorphous FeB films are studied by means of the longitudinal Kerr effect. In addition to the irregular domain structure characteristic of soft magnetic materials, we observe in certain regions a fine equilibrium domain structure with periodicity of a few micrometers. The Kerr contrast indicates that the magnetization at the surface of the film lies partially along the stripe direction. These characteristics and the behavior in applied fields suggests that the domains are similar to type II “strong stripe domains” observed earlier in permalloy films. Extending an earlier theory by Hara, we use a stray-field-free model with tilted orthorhombic anisotropy to show that there are at least two qualitatively different strong stripe structures: type IIa with surface magnetization perpendicular to the stripes and type IIb with surface magnetization at least partially parallel to the stripes. Type IIb is favored when K_p/K₀<cos 2θ ₀ where K₀ is the anisotropy component with axis tilted by θ₀ out of the film plane, and K_p is an in-plane anisotropy perpendicular to K₀. Strong stripes in amorphous FeB appear to be type IIb while those in permalloy are usually type IIa.     

Study of domain structures in FeCo/TiZr multilayers by means of 3D neutron depolarisation

Multilayers of composition 60(Co₆₈Fe₃₁V₁/Ti₇₅Zr₂₅) sputtered on Si wafers are studied by 3D neutron depolarisation analysis at glancing angles between −6.5° and 6.5°, both in zero and non-zero magnetic field. As the sample is rotated over a full turn in its plane, a 360° rather than 180° period is observed. This suggests that the magnetisation inside the CoFe sublayers is inclined by a few degrees out of the sample plane. Neighbouring FeCo sublayers cooperate by dipolar forces to form a structure of “inclined slab domains” with mutually antiparallel overall magnetisation. The thickness of these slabs includes 10–20 bilayers. In the hysteresis loop with the field parallel to the FeCo magnetisation a high remanence is found; when the field is (in-plane but) perpendicular to the FeCo magnetisation, the dipolar coupling is suppressed and a magnetisation loop with a lower remanence is observed.     

Diffraction de neutrons dans CoCl2, 6D2O determination de ses structures cristallographique et magnetique

We have performed neutron diffraction experiments on a CoCl₂, 6D₂O monocrystal. We show that a crystallographic transition from the C 2/m monoclinic structure to the P $\text{1}$ triclinic structure occurs at T = Tmt = 73.5K., together with a twinning of the monocrystal. We describe the two possible twins (four types of domains) related to the loss of the initial monoclinic symmetry, say of the elements 2 and m : either m becomes twin plane (Albite twinning) or 2 becomes twin axis (Pericline twinning). Each domain has an antiferromagnetic structure P 2a T, with an easy magnetization axis tilted from the ac plane by an angle φ = (30 ± 4)°, its component on this plane making an angle φ = (3.5 ± 2)° with the c axis.     

Effect of low-symmetry mechanical stresses on the magnetic properties of iron borate

Low-(C ₃) symmetry mechanical stresses are used to induce an additional crystalline magnetic anisotropy in the basal plane of a FeBO₃ single crystal. The effect of the stress-induced anisotropy on the main magnetic properties of this weak ferromagnet is studied by a magnetooptic method. This additional anisotropy is shown to transform the initial 180° domain structure of iron borate into a structure with domain walls making an angle of ～ 120° with each other in the basal plane of the crystal. However, unlike in the ordinary 120° DW structure, the azimuthal angle of the spontaneous magnetization vectors in the arising domains varies along domain walls. It is found that the stress-induced transformation of the crystal’s domain structure significantly affects the shape of hysteresis loops recorded at quasi-static magnetization, increases the initial magnetooptic susceptibility, and makes the coercive force anisotropic.     

Remanence due to wall magnetization and counterintuitive magnetometry data in 200-nm films of Ni

200-nm-thick Ni films in an epitaxial Cu/Ni/Cu/Si(001) structure are expected to have an in-plane effective magnetic anisotropy. However, the in-plane remanence is only 42%, and magnetic force microscopy domain images suggest perpendicular magnetization. Quantitative magnetic force microscopy analysis can resolve the inconsistencies and show that (i) the films have perpendicular domains capped by closure domains with magnetization canted at 51 degrees from the film normal, (ii) the magnetization in the Bloch domain walls between the perpendicular domains accounts for the low in-plane remanence, and (iii) the perpendicular magnetization process requires a short-range domain wall motion prior to wall-magnetization rotation and is nonhysteretic, whereas the in-plane magnetization requires long-range motion before domain-magnetization rotation and is hysteretic.     

Kinetics of magnetization reversal in a thin La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite film

The kinetics of magnetization reversal of a thin LSMO film has been studied for the first time. It is shown that the magnetic domain structure critically depends on the conditions of structure formation. In the demagnetized state (after zero-field cooling from T _c ), a maze-like domain microstructure with perpendicular magnetization is formed in the film. However, after field cooling and/or saturating magnetization by a field of arbitrary orientation, the [110] direction of spontaneous magnetization in the film plane is stabilized; this pattern corresponds to macrodomains with in-plane magnetization. Further film magnetization reversal (both quasi-static and pulsed) from this state is implemented via nucleation and motion of 180° “head-to-head” domain walls. Upon pulse magnetization reversal, the walls “jump” at a distance proportional to the applied field strength and then undergo thermally activated drift. All dynamic characterisitcs critically depend on the temperature when the latter varies around the room temperature.     

Local canted spin behaviour in Co1.4−x Zn x Ge0.4Fe1.2O4 spinels: A macroscopic, mesoscopic and microscopic study

DC magnetization, neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction (with both polarized and unpolarized neutrons) measurements have been reported for the Co_1.1−x Zn _x Ge_0.1Fe_1.2O₁ spinels with x=0.5, 0.6 and 0.7. Neutron depolarization and neutron diffraction measurements confirm the presence of a long range ferrimagnetic ordering of the local canted spins in these ferrite samples. The observed features of low field magnetization have been explained under the framework of thermally activated domain wall movement of ferrimagnetic arrangement of local canted spins. An important role of magnetic anisotropy (due to the presence of Co²⁺ ions) in establishing the magnetic ordering and domain kinetics in these ferrites has been observed.     

A Mössbauer study of ferromagnetic domain orientation in amorphous Fe75P15C10 foils

Mössbauer studies of splat cooled amorphous Fe₇₅P₁₅C₁₀ foils show that, in “as prepared” samples, frozen-in stresses cause the magnetization to be essentially in the plane of the foil. However, by annealing at 600°K for one hour, the magnetization becomes predominantly perpendicular to the surface (>85%). Thus, splat cooled materials may support the formation of bubble domains. Further annealing in the presence of a magnetic field does not increase the relative magnetization perpendicular to the surface.     

Study of ferromagnetic bulk domains by neutron depolarization in three dimensions

The polarization change of a polarized neutron beam after transmission through a partly magnetized ferromagnetic material can be described by a (3×3) depolarization matrix. A theory has been developed to interpret this matrix in terms of well-known magnetic domain quantities such as the reduced mean magnetizationm, the mean domain size δ and the mean square direction cosines γ _x , γ _y and γ _z of the inner magnetization within the domains. In order to do this it was necessary to make some simplifying assumptions about ferromagnetic domain structures. The influences of these assumptions on the quantities derived have been discussed. Finally the theory has been applied to depolarization measurements in nickel foils with the magnetic field and mechanical stress as parameters.     

Influence of induced uniaxial anisotropy on the domain structure and phase transitions of yttrium-iron garnet films

The effect of induced uniaxial anisotropy on the properties and parameters of the domain structure and phase transitions in yttrium-iron garnet (YIG) films is investigated. Based on the measurements and the derived formulas we determine the difference between the magnetization and the uniaxial anisotropy field for each of the films. We have also measured the parameters of the domain structures and phase transitions of the films for the magnetization parallel and perpendicular to the projections of the [111] crystallographic axes onto the plane of the film. We find that films of pure YIG films grown in (111) are characterized by the existence of some critical value of the uniaxial anisotropy field. It is found that for films in which the uniaxial anisotropy field is larger than this critical value and films in which it is less than this critical value, such parameters of the domain structures as the ratio of the width of the domains to the film thickness, the orientation of the magnetization of the domains, the orientation of the domain boundaries, and the magnitudes of the phase transition fields differ substantially. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 2034–2041 (November 1999)     

Observation of ferro- and antiferromagnetic domains in the Europium-Chalcogenides

Single crystals of the Eu-Chalcogenides show a scattering of light and a depolarization of polarized light at temperatures below the Curie- or Néel point, respectively, due to the existence of magnetic domains. These domains could be observed with a polarizing microscope. In antiferromagnetic EuSe (between 3.5° and 4.6°K), domains exist with optically active axes along the 6 [100] directions. The domain size in ferromagnetic EuS was at the limit of the resolution of the microscope. However, by applying a magnetic field larger domains were obtained. The direction of the magnetization within the domains is stabilized by internal stress. Due to the strong dichroism of the Eu-Chalcogenides, domains could be observed with only one polarizing unit.Busch, Junod andWachter [1, 2] have found a large red-shift of the absorption edge with the magnetization. By means of this effect domains with different magnetizations could be observed without any polarizer due to their different absorption.     

Experimental investigation of the magnetic structure of domain walls in thin ferromagnetic films

The structure of domain walls in thin magnetic films has been studied by the Lorentz method using electron microscopy. The possible existence of the coinciding and opposite directions of rotation of the magnetization vector in Néel domain walls has been proved experimentally. The domain walls separating 90° domains have been found in single-crystal magnetic films. These walls consist of domains with a considerably smaller area than 90° domains.     

High field magnetization of NdAl2 single crystals interpreted with crystal field theory

The magnetization of NdAl₂ single crystals was measured at 4.2, 20.3 and 77 K, in magnetic fields up to 35 tesla applied in the 〈100〉, 〈110〉 and 〈111〉 directions. The magnetization in these directions may be described theoretically, without any fitting, in terms of two cubic crystalline electric field parameters and one molecular field constant which have been taken from inelastic neutron scattering data.⁵