MFM probe control of magnetic vortex chirality in elliptical Co nanoparticles

Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) methods were applied to investigate the peculiarities of magnetization distribution in elliptical 400×600×27 nm Co particles. Reversible transitions between the uniform and vortex states under inhomogeneous magnetic field of MFM probe were observed. Possibility to control the chirality of a magnetic vortex in these particles by MFM probe manipulation was shown.     

Magnetic properties of submicron size particles made from Fe/Co multilayers

Arrays of submicron size (0.15 μm) particles of 23 and 35 nm thick Fe(2 ML)/Co(6 ML) multilayers were investigated by magnetization measurements and magnetic force microscopy. The behaviour of elliptical particles is mainly determined by their shape anisotropy. Varying the lateral size and thickness of the particles there is a transition from multi-domain to single-domain states.     

Exchange coupling effects in NiO/Co and NiO/permalloy bilayers

NiO/Co and NiO/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayers were prepared at 293 onto SiO₂(1 0 1)/Si(1 1 1) and glass substrates using UHV (5×10⁻¹⁰ mbar) RF/DC magnetron sputtering. Results on magnetic measurements showed that the exchange biasing and coercive fields are inversely proportional to the Co and Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ (Py) layer thickness down to 2 nm. A maximal RT coupling energy for the NiO–Co and NiO–Py interface was estimated as 0.04 and 0.03 mJ/m² for the samples prepared onto SiO₂(1 0 1)/Si(1 1 1) substrates.     

MFM study of magnetic vortex cores in circular permalloy dots: behavior in external field

In a circular dot of permalloy with an appropriate size, a vortex structure with perpendicular (turned-up) magnetization at the core is realized. The existence of the perpendicular magnetization spot has been confirmed and the direction of the magnetization, up or down, has been determined by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) for permalloy dots with the diameter of 0.1–1 μm. The switching field of turned-up magnetization is determined by applying external fields perpendicularly and in tilted directions to the plane. By comparing the MFM results and the magnetization curves measured by a SQUID magnetometer, the switching process of turned-up magnetization is argued.     

Magnetoresistive measurement of switching behavior in nano-structured magnetic dot arrays

In the present study, geometrical and thermal effects in a mesoscopic magnetization reversal process have been studied on a novel nano-structure of magnetic relief dot with magnetoresistive measurements. Only the top layer of a substrate/CoPt(10 nm)/Cu(10 nm)/NiFe(6, 12 nm) film was structured into rectangular dots with various lengths (L) and widths (W) down to 0.2 μm. Coercive fields of NiFe relief dots (W=0.2 μm) systematically decrease with the decrease of L/W, as predicted from demagnetizing factors in single domain particle. About 50% reduction of H_c due to a temperature rise, from 5 to 300 K, demonstrates considerable thermal activation in the magnetization reversal of nano-structured magnetic particles.     

Application of high gradient magnetic separation principles to magnetic drug targeting

A hypothetical magnetic drug targeting system, utilizing high gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) principles, was studied theoretically using FEMLAB simulations. This new approach uses a ferromagnetic wire placed at a bifurcation point inside a blood vessel and an externally applied magnetic field, to magnetically guide magnetic drug carrier particles (MDCP) through the circulatory system and then to magnetically retain them at a target site. Wire collection (CE) and diversion (DE) efficiencies were defined and used to evaluate the system performance. CE and DE both increase as the strength of the applied magnetic field (0.3–2.0 T), the amount of ferromagnetic material (iron) in the MDCP (20–100%) and the size of the MDCP (1–10 μm radius) increase, and as the average inlet velocity (0.1–0.8 m s⁻¹), the size of the wire (50–250 μm radius) and the ratio (4–10) of the parent vessel radius (0.25–1.25 mm radius) to wire radius decrease. The effect of the applied magnetic field direction (0° and 90°) on CE and DE was minimal. Under these plausible conditions, CEs as high as 70% were obtained, with DEs reaching only 30%; however, when the MDCPs were allowed to agglomerate (4–10 μm radius), CEs and DEs of 100% were indeed achieved. These results reveal that this new magnetic drug targeting approach for magnetically collecting MDCPs at a target site, even in arteries with very high velocities, is feasible and very promising; this new approach for magnetically guiding MDCPs through the circulatory system is also feasible but more limited. Overall, this study shows that magnetic drug targeting, based on HGMS principles, has considerable promise as an effective drug targeting tool with many potential applications.     

Tight-binding study of ammonia and hydrogen adsorption on magnetic cobalt systems

The semi-empirical self-consistent tight-binding model of ammonia and hydrogen adsorption at Co(0001) and small Co clusters is used to study the chemisorption role in surface magnetism. The adsorbate choice has been suggested by recent experiments. At the Co(0001) surface the atomic magnetization is predicted to diminish locally by 0.26 μ_B due to an isolated hydrogen atom adsorption; for Co₁₃ clusters the change is somewhat smaller but less localized. At H(1×1)–Co(0001) the magnetization of surface Co atoms drops to 0.88 μ_B. The hydrogen magnetic moment is very small and couples antiferromagnetically to Co. Ammonia adsorption is found to reduce the Co atom magnetization locally by 0.1 μ_B or less. We discuss the possibility of adsorbate–metal antiferromagnetic coupling in more detail.     

Perpendicular interlayer coupling in Ni80Fe20/NiO/Co trilayers

An in-plane perpendicular magnetic coupling between Ni80Fe20 and Co has been found in NiFe/NiO/Co trilayers for a NiO thickness ranging from 4 to 25 nm by magneto-optical Kerr effect and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements. In the easy magnetization direction of the Co layer, the Co coercive field H(C) increases when the thickness of the NiO layer t(NiO) increases. Because of the coupling, H(C) is always larger than for NiO/Co bilayers with the same thicknesses. The saturation field of the NiFe layer H(S) decreases when t(NiO) increases, indicating a weakening of the coupling. Numerical simulations show that the presence of interface roughness combined with a small value of the NiO anisotropy can explain the observed 90 degrees coupling.     

Perpendicular magnetization and exchange bias in epitaxial NiO/[Ni/Pt]2 multilayers

The realization of perpendicular magnetization and perpendicular exchange bias(PEB)in magnetic multilayers is important for the spintronic applications.NiO(t)/[Ni(4 nm)/Pt(1 nm)]₂multilayers with varying the NiO layer thickness t have been epitaxially deposited on SrTiO;(001)substrates.Perpendicular magnetization can be achieved when t<25 nm.Perpendicular magnetization originates from strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA),mainly resulting from interfacial strain induced by the lattice mismatch between the Ni and Pt layers.The PMA energy constant decreases monotonically with increasing t,due to the weakening of Ni(001)orientation and a little degradation of the Ni–Pt interface.Furthermore,significant PEB can be observed though NiO layer has spin compensated(001)crystalline plane.The PEB field increases monotonically with increasing t,which is considered to result from the thickness dependent anisotropy of the NiO layer.     

The effect of anion on the magnetic properties of nanocrystalline NiO synthesized by homogeneous precipitation

The effect of using different anions (nitrate, chloride, sulfate, and acetate) during the precursor synthesis, by homogeneous precipitation, on the magnetic properties of the final product (nanocrystalline NiO), has been studied. The precursors and the oxide were characterized by various analytical techniques including powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry (TGA), and magnetic measurements. The synthesized NiO samples possess crystallite size in the range, ∼2−6 nm, depending on the anion of the nickel salt. The nickel oxide nanoparticles exhibit superparamagnetic behavior. Acetate and sulfate anions lead to NiO with higher saturation magnetization (∼1.2−1.8 emu/g), while chloride and nitrate anions lead to NiO nanoparticles with lower saturation magnetization (∼0.1-0.4 emu/g) values. The observed magnetic behavior has been attributed to the size effect.     

Magnetization reversal of ferromagnetic nanoparticles under inhomogeneous magnetic field

We investigated remagnetization processes in ferromagnetic nanoparticles under inhomogeneous magnetic field induced by the tip of magnetic force microscope (MFM) in both theoretical and empirical ways. Systematic MFM observations were carried out on arrays of submicron-sized elliptical ferromagnetic particles of Co and FeCr with different sizes and periods. It clearly reveals the distribution of remanent magnetization and processes of local remagnetization of individual ferromagnetic particles. Modeling of remagnetization processes in ferromagnetic nanoparticles under magnetic field induced by MFM probe was performed on the base of Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation for magnetization. MFM-induced inhomogeneous magnetic field is very effective to control the magnetic state of individual ferromagnetic nanoparticles as well as to create different distribution of magnetic field in array of ferromagnetic nanoparticles.     

NiO-thickness dependent magnetic anisotropies in Fe/NiO/Au(001) and Fe/NiO/MgO(001) systems

The in-plane magnetic anisotropy of Fe/NiO bilayers was studied quantitatively as a function of NiO thickness using the magneto-optical Kerr effect with a rotating field. For NiO thicker than the ordering transition thickness, the total in-plane fourfold anisotropy of the Fe layer decreases with NiO thickness in Fe/NiO/Au(001), but increases in Fe/NiO/MgO(001). Our result indicates that the exchange coupling in an Fe/NiO bilayer might induce an additional in-plane fourfold anisotropy, and the opposite thickness dependent behaviors may be attributed to the different Ni²⁺ antiferromagnetic spin orientations for NiO films grown on Au(001) and MgO(001) surfaces.     

Study of the magnetic microstructure of Ni/NiO nanogranular samples above the electric percolation threshold by magnetoresistance measurements

Magnetoresistance measurements have been exploited to gain information on the magnetic microstructure of two Ni/NiO nanogranular materials consisting of Ni nanocrystallites (mean size of the order of 10 nm) embedded in a NiO matrix and differing in the amount of metallic Ni, ~33 and ~61 vol%. The overall conductance of both samples is metallic in character, indicating that the Ni content is above the percolation threshold for electric conductivity; the electric resistivity is two orders of magnitude smaller in the sample with higher Ni fraction (10(-5) Ωm against 10(-3) Ωm). An isotropic, spin-dependent magnetoresistance has been measured in the sample with lower Ni content, whereas both isotropic and anisotropic magnetoresistance phenomena coexist in the other material. This study, associated with magnetization loop measurements and the comparison with the exchange bias effect, allows one to conclude that in the sample with lower Ni content neither the physical percolation of the Ni nanocrystallites nor the magnetic percolation (i.e., formation of a homogeneous ferromagnetic network) are achieved; in the other sample physical percolation is reached while magnetic percolation is still absent. In both behaviors, a key role is played by the NiO matrix, which brings about a magnetic nanocrystallite/matrix interface exchange energy term and rules both the direct exchange interaction among Ni nanocrystallites and the magnetotransport properties of these nanogranular materials.     

利用扫描透射X射线显微镜观测磁涡旋结构

利用上海光源软X射线谱学显微光束线站(STXM)并结合X射线的磁圆二色效应, 我们对方形、圆形和三角形的Ni₈₀Fe₂₀薄膜微结构中的磁涡旋结构进行了定量实验观测, 并利用同步辐射光源的元素分辨特性, 分别在Fe和Ni的L₃吸收边对涡旋磁结构进行了观测. 我们还对磁涡旋中磁矩的分布进行了定量分析, 发现实验结果与微磁学模拟结果完全符合.     

Magnetoresistance in epitaxial [NiFe/Cu/Co(/Cu)] films

Epitaxial [NiFe/Cu/Co(/Cu)] films have been grown on Si(100)/Cu substrates using an ultrahigh vacuum evaporation method. Magnetoresistance (MR) and magnetization were measured at room temperature with maximum applied field, 40 kA/m. The (100) oriented [NiFe(3 nm)/Cu(6 nm)/Co(3 nm)/Cu(6 nm)] × 10 multilayers showed a sharply peaked MR curve (when the external field was applied along [011] direction) due to magnetization rotation of free NiFe layers separated from Co layers with thick Cu layers. Furthermore the interposition of a Ag layer in the Cu layer reduced the couplings between ferromagnetic layers and improved the sensitivity of the [NiFe/Cu/Co(/Cu)] film. Si(100)/Cu(5 nm)/[Co(3 nm)/Cu(2.4 nm)/Ag(0.2 nm)/Cu(2.4 nm)/NiFe(3 nm)/Cu(2.4 nm)/Ag(0.2 nm)/Cu(2.4 nm)] × 10 multilayers showed a resistivity change of about 8.2% per kA/m (12 Oe).     

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.     

Low frequency magnetic noise in epitaxial antiferromagnetically coupled Fe/Cr multilayers

For antiferromagnetically coupled epitaxial [Fe/Cr(001)]₁₀ multilayers we detected a strong enhancement of the magnetism-related electrical noise in the vicinity of the orientation transition between the easy and hard axes. Our measurements are performed at different temperatures and we also identified the noise caused by depinning of domain walls (DWs). We are able to detect and follow in real time the motion of rather extended (of the order of 100 μm) DWs by comparing the magnetic noise in the presence and absence of a DC transport current, respectively. The presence of large and small (<1 μm) DWs is confirmed by magnetic force microscopy images obtained at room temperature.     

Investigation of the magnetization reversal of a magnetic dot array of Co/Pt multilayers

The magnetization reversal behavior of a dot array consisting of Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was investigated. The size of the dots was varied from 200 nm down to 40 nm, while keeping the filling factor constant at about 0.16. The structural properties were determined by scanning electron microscopy, whereas the magnetic investigation was performed using SQUID and MFM techniques. It was observed that the dot size has a severe impact on the magnetization reversal mechanism where only the smallest dots with a size of 40 nm are found to be in a magnetic single-domain state. Moreover, the patterning process leads to a degradation of the multilayer, leading to a reduction of the switching field and an increase of the switching field distribution with decreasing dot size. In addition, micromagnetic simulations were performed to understand the magnetization reversal mechanism in more detail.     

Stability of the magnetic domain structure of nanoparticle thin films against external fields

We investigate the effect of external magnetic fields on the magnetic structure of thin films from magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) with dipolar interaction. Such fields are present, for example, if samples are scanned with magnetic probes. Numerical simulations and experimental magnetic force microscopy (MFM) studies are presented. Numerically, we have calculated the magnetization pattern of single-layer and multilayer MNP thin films. The calculations show that unperturbed single-layer MNP films have an in-plane orientation of the magnetization with a flux-closure-domain pattern. An external field generated by a point dipole above the film induces locally an out-of-plane configuration of the magnetization. In the corresponding MFM images, the domain pattern in the film is erased and a stripe-like contrast enhancement at the edges appears. Multilayer films are found to be more robust against external fields than monolayers.     

Magnetic domain configurations in exchange-coupled NiO/Co bilayer films

The magnetic domain configurations of exchange-coupled NiO/Co bilayers were investigated by magnetic force microscopy. These bilayers exhibit a well-defined uniaxial anisotropy resulting from the deposition at oblique incidence of the NiO layer. Two types of magnetic contrast are identified: (i) bipolar contrast due to 180° Néel walls in the parts of the walls which are parallel to the easy axis of magnetization, and (ii) monopolar contrast in the parts of the walls separating domains with meeting head-on magnetizations. These latter domain walls have a zigzag shape which represents a compromise between a decrease in the local density of magnetostatic energy and an increase in the wall length. The effect of the Co thickness of the shape on the domains is also discussed.