Hard magnetic properties of ErCo7−xCux [0.3⩽x⩽1] system

We report the observation of excellent hard magnetic properties on purely single phase ErCo_7−xCu_x compounds with x=0.3, 0.5, 0.8 and 1. Cu substitution leads to a decrease in the saturation magnetization, but enhances the uniaxial anisotropy in this system. The large anisotropy field (∼100 kOe) is attributed to the Er and the Co sublattices. Domain wall pinning effect seems to play a crucial role in determining the temperature and field dependences of magnetization in these compounds. The hard magnetic properties obtained at room temperature (RT) are comparable to the best results obtained in other RCo₇ based materials.     

Anisotropy and FOMP in Tb3 (Fe28−xCox) V1.0 (x=0, 3 and 6) compounds

In this work, the structural and magnetic properties of Tb₃ (Fe_28−xCo_x) V_1.0 (x=0, 3, 6) compounds have been investigated. The structural characterization of compounds by X-ray powder diffraction is an evidence for a monoclinic Nd₃(Fe, Ti)₂₉-type structure (A2/m space group). The refined lattice parameters a and b (but not c) and the unit cell volume V, obtained from the XRD data by the Rietveld method, are found to decrease with increasing Co concentration. The unit cell parameters behavior has been attributed to the smaller Co atoms and a preferential substitution of Fe by Co. The anisotropy field (H_a) as well as critical field (H_cr) was measured using the singular point detection (SPD) technique from 5 to 300 K in a pulsed magnetic field of up to 30 T. At T=5 K, a FOMP of type 2 was observed for all samples and persists at all temperatures up to 300 K. For sample x=0, H_cr=10.6 and 2.0 T at 5 and 300 K, respectively, is equal to that reported earlier. The occurrence of canting angles between the magnetic sublattices during the magnetization process instead of high-order anisotropy contributions (at room temperature are usually negligible) has been considered to explain the survival of the FOMP at room temperature. The anisotropy and critical fields behave differently for samples with x=0, 3 compared with x=6. The observed behavior has been related to the fact that the Co substitution for Fe takes place with a preferential entrance in the inequivalent crystallographic sites of the 3:29 structure. The contribution of the Tb-sublattice in the Tb₃(Fe, V)₂₉ compound with uniaxial anisotropy has been scaled from the anisotropy field measured on a Y₃(Fe, V)₂₉ single crystal with easy plane anisotropy.     

Cubic harmonic analysis of magnetic anisotropy measurements on single crystal HoxTb1−xFe2 laves phase compounds

Room temperature magnetic anisotropy measurements have been made on a series of low anisotropy Ho_xTb_1?xFe₂ compounds, with 0.826 < x < 0.908, using torque magnetometry techniques. An analysis of the data using the conventional expansion of anisotropy energy in terms of the direction cosines proved inadequate because of the presence of higher order contributions to the anisotropy. When these contributions were included in the expansion, non unique anisotropy constants were obtained which were not consistent with the predictions of the single ion model. An analysis of the data using an expansion of the anisotropy in terms of an orthonormal set of functions, namely the cubic harmonics developed by Mueller and Priestly, proved more successful. The results showed that the two lowest order anisotropy constants, κ₄ and κ₆, both varied linearly with holmium concentrations as predicted by the single ion model; however, κ₈, the next higher order term, was not consistent with the predicted behavior. The origin of this contribution is believed to be related to the magnetostriction.     

On the comparison of the polarisation behaviour of exchange-biased AF/F NiMn/Fe37Co48Hf15 bi-layer and multi-layer films with increased ferromagnetic cut-off frequencies

Antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic (AF/F) NiMn/Fe₃₇Co₄₈Hf₁₅ films were investigated with respect to their exchange bias, in-plane unidirectional anisotropy, polarisation and high frequency behaviour. After deposition, carried out by r.f. magnetron sputtering, the films were post-annealed for 4 h at 300 °C in a static magnetic field, in order to induce exchange-bias, which results in a unidirectional anisotropy. Dependent on the presence of a bi-layer or multi-layer sandwich structure the films show a different exchange-bias field-ferromagnetic inter-layer thickness behaviour with exchange-bias fields μ₀?H_eb between 2 and 10 mT. The in-plane uniaxial (single film) or unidirectional anisotropy fields μ₀*H_UF were between 4 and 18 mT. This results in a significant increase of the cut-off frequency in the GHz range in comparison to a single Fe₃₇Co₄₈Hf₁₅ film, which is shown by frequency-dependent permeability plots. High damping in the imaginary part of the permeability, i.e., high resonance line broadening could be observed for films with high coercivity μ₀*H_c of around 7 mT in the easy axis of magnetisation.     

Magnetic anisotropy of UFe6Al6

A comparative study of magnetization in UFe₆Al₆ and LuFe₆Al₆ single crystals gives clear evidence for the magnetic state of uranium in UFe₆Al₆. Both compounds exhibit the easy-plane type of magnetic anisotropy, however, the anisotropy energy in UFe₆Al₆, characterized by the anisotropy constants K₁=−7.3 MJ m⁻³ and K₂=−1.25 MJ m⁻³ at 2 K, exceeds by an order of magnitude that in LuFe₆Al₆. Anisotropy within the easy plane in the ferromagnetic state and anisotropy in the paramagnetic range, both absent in LuFe₆Al₆, are observed in UFe₆Al₆.     

Surface anisotropy energy of thin amorphous magnetic films of (Gd1−xCox)1−yMoy alloys; experimental results

Surface excitations in thin amorphous (Gd_1?xCo_x)_1?yMo_y films obtained by the rf sputtering technique were studied. A microwave spectrometer at X-band was used for magnetic resonance investigation with external magnetic field rotating from perpendicular to parallel resonance orientations. The critical angle and angular dependence of the position of the surface mode and the uniform mode were determined. The Surface Inhomogeneity (SI) model was applied with symmetrical boundary conditions. The surface anisotropy energy term was assumed as a superposition of the uniaxial anisotropy term and a biaxial anisotropy term. The origin of the latter term is not known yet. We also performed the resonance experiment for different temperatures ranging from 180 to 300 K. From the experiment, the uniaxial surface anisotropy constant K′_s1 and the biaxial surface anisotropy constant K′_s2 were found as functions of the temperature; the uniaxial anisotropy energy against temperature changes the sign for y=0.02 from easy axis to easy plane while the biaxial surface anisotropy does not change its character.     

Anisotropic susceptibility of (Ti1−xVx)2O3 single crystals

Anisotropy of the susceptibility, which depends on vanadium concentration, was observed for (Ti_1?xV_x)₂O₃(x=0.005, 0.015, 0.02) single crystals. The anisotropy is hard to interpret by localized magnetic states of vanadium ions.     

Anisotropy of interchain interaction in polymeric (SN)x crystals

The technique of polarized reflection microspectroscopy was used to study anisotropy of polymeric sulfur nitride (SN)_x in plasma edge region. The spectra taken from different faces of single crystals indicate the presence of strong anisotropy of interchain interaction due to orientation of the π-electron orbitals and suggest two-dimensional metallic behavior of the π-electron system in (SN)_x.     

Field-induced microwave absorption in Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Fe3O4/polyaniline composites synthesized by different methods

Three kinds of nanoscale powders containing Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) have been studied by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR): (i) Fe₃O₄ NPs grown and then covered with polyaniline (PANI), (ii) unclad Fe₃O₄ NPs, and (iii) Fe₃O₄ NPs grown “in situ” with the PANI. In every case, there is no low field microwave absorption, rather a single FMR line is observed. However, the half-power widths are of order of 1 kOe presumably due to a distribution of internal fields. For type I particles with a low concentration (below 40%) of Fe₃O₄, the observed resonance fields (H_r) are close to those expected for spheres with negligible magnetocrystalline anisotropy. For all other cases, H_r values are significantly lower. Such shortfalls can be roughly understood by invoking dipolar interactions between the grains, stresses frozen in grains during manufacture (method III), as well as anisotropy fields when the specimens are prepared in an aligning field.     

The influence of easy direction of magnetisation on 59Co NMR spectrum in R2(Co1−xMnx)17 compounds

The spin echo NMR spectra of ⁵⁹Co in R₂(Co_1-xMn_x)₁₇, (R = Y, Gd) measured at 4.2 K are reported. The large shift of resonance lines is observed, that is explained as caused by reorientation of easy axis of magnetisation from easy plane to easy direction (c axis). It is suggested to explain quantitatively the spectra, that only two of four Co sites (9d and 18f) in R₂Co₁₇ structure play a dominant role in determining of anisotropy energy and the Co atoms at the 6c sites (“dumb-bell” atoms) give no direct contribution to the anisotropy energy of the compound. The corresponding changes of local anisotropy energy and the orbital part of cobalt magnetic moment characteristic for each of cobalt structural sites are calculated and discussed.     

Anisotropy of hexagonal ferrites with M,W and Y structures containing Fe3+ and Fe2+ as magnetic ions

The ferrimagnetic saturation moment and hexagonal anisotropy constant K₁ have been measured at 4K on a Zn₂Y single crystal and on polycrystalline BaFe²⁺₂W and SrFe²⁺₂W samples. The moment of Fe₂W is in agreement with a collinear spin coupling and with the known site occupation for the Fe²⁺ ions. The moment of Zn₂Y is 9% lower than the value for a collinear configuration.The uniaxial anisotropy of Fe²⁺ in hexagonal ferrites is discussed and compared with that of Co²⁺. No noticeable Fe²⁺ anisotropy is found in Fe₂W in contrast to LaM = LaFe²⁺Fe³⁺₁₁O₁₉, in which the Fe²⁺ anisotropy is strong. The difference is attributed to the symmetry difference of the sites occupied by the Fe²⁺ ions in both compounds. The current theory does not satisfactorily explain the anisotropy and quadrupole splitting of Fe²⁺ in LaM. From this it is concluded that admixing of ⁵E states and (or) the influence of a dynamical Jahn-Teller effect cannot be neglected.The dipole-dipole anisotropy is computed for the M, W and Y structure and some deviation from the literature data is found. Using these results, a mean anisotropy of 1.3 to 2.3 cm^?1 per Fe³⁺ ion is found for the three structures.     

Antiferromagnetic resonance in ferroborate NdFe3(BO3)4

The AFMR spectra of the NdFe₃(BO₃)₄ crystal are measured in a wide range of frequencies and temperatures. It is found that by the type of its magnetic anisotropy the compound is an “easy-plane” antiferromagnet with a weak anisotropy in the basal plane. The effective magnetic parameters are determined: anisotropy fields H_a1=1.14 kOe and H_a2=60 kOe and magnetic excitation gaps Δν₁=101.9 GHz and Δν₂=23.8 GHz. It is shown that commensurate-incommensurate phase transition causes a shift in resonance field and a considerable change in absorption line width.At temperatures below 4.2 K nonlinear regimes of AFMR excitation at low microwave power levels are observed.     

NMR of 27 Al in paramagnetic single-crystal DyAl2

NMR of ²⁷Al was observed in a spherical single crystal of DyAl₂ in the paramagnetic state. The well split quadrupole spectrum yielded a quadrupole frequency ν_Q = 561 kHz and hyperfine constant H_hf^p = -3.17 kOe/n_B. The anisotropy of the spectrum is well explained by the dipolar interaction.     

Additional anisotropy of electron bands in quasi-1d organic conductors (TMTSF)2X; (CH)x and related compounds due to the small polaron's effects

The strong anisotropy of the small polaron narrowing of electron bands in quasi-1d organic conductors (TMTSF)₂X; (CH)_x and in related compounds due to the anisotropy of a crystal lattice and of a phonon spectrum is proved. The large difference between the experimental and numerical results for electron band-widths in these substances and the extremely large anisotropy of electron bands ～ 10⁶, been found in (CH)_x, are interpreted in terms of this effect.     

The electric field gradient in cadmium metal and the decay of 115Cdm

Using the anisotropy of γ-rays from ¹¹⁵Cd^m nuclei oriented in a cadmium single crystal at low temperatures, the electric field gradient is measured as V_zz=+(1.29±0.37) × 10¹⁵esu/sm³. Mixing ratios of several γ-rays are also reported     

Spin-glass-like behaviour of the mixed spinel systems MnxZn1-xCr2O4 and Mn0.75Mg0.25(Cr1-yVy)2O4

NMR and susceptibility measurements have been made on a randomly mixed insulating ferrimagnet and antiferromagnet, Mn_xZn_1-xCr₂O₄. The thermoremanence and the induced unidirectional anisotropy were observed for concentrations lower than x = 0.80, after field cooling. The compound Mn_0.75Mg_0.25Cr₂O₄ shows similar behaviour. When the latter is doped with V³⁺ at the B sites, its magnetic anisotropy increases strongly, but the change in the unidirectional anisotropy is smooth.     

Magnetic properties of CuCr2Se4 single crystals

The magnetic properties of CuCr₂Se₄ single crystals, which were grown by chemical transport reactions using iodine as a carrier, have been investigated. The magnetic moment at 0 K is found to be 5.07 μ_B per mole. The susceptibility at high temperatures follows a Curie-Weiss law with an asymptotic Curie temperature 430 K and a Curie constant 2.55 emu · $\text{deg}\text{mol}$. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy constants K₁ and K₂ are ? 6.9x 10⁵ and ? 0.9x 10⁵$\text{erg}\text{cm}{}^3$, respectively, at 5.1 K.In order to examine the effects of annealing on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, the ferromagnetic resonance at room temperature was measured after annealing in vacuum and subsequently in an atmosphere of Se. It is found that the absolute values of K₁ and K₂ decrease after annealing in vacuum and increase to the initial values after annealing in an atmosphere of Se.     

Magnetic domain structure in Fe78.8−xCoxCu0.6Nb2.6Si9B9 nanocrystalline alloys studied by Lorentz microscopy

The magnetic domain structures of Fe_78.8−xCo_xCu_0.6Nb_2.6Si₉B₉ (x=0, 20, 40, 60) alloys are investigated by Lorentz microscopy coupled with the focused ion beam method. The specimen prepared using the FIB method is found to have a considerably more uniform thickness compared to that prepared using the ion-milling method. In Fe_38.8Co₄₀Cu_0.6Nb_2.6Si₉B₉ and Fe_18.8Co₆₀Cu_0.6Nb_2.6Si₉B₉ alloys, 180° domain walls extending in the direction of the induced magnetic anisotropy are observed. Analysis with Lorentz microscopy reveals that the width of the magnetic domains decreases with an increase in the cobalt content or the induced magnetic anisotropy K_u, that is, the domain width d is proportional to the induced magnetic anisotropy (K_u)^−1/4. On the other hand, in the in situ Lorentz microscopy observation as a function of temperature, magnetic ripple structures are found to appear in a localized area due to the fluctuation of magnetization vectors from 423 K. It is observed that the induced magnetic anisotropy caused by the applied magnetic field at 803 K is not suppressed by the magnetic ripple structures observed at 423–443 K.     

Anisotropy of the electrical conductivity in the one-dimensional conductor K2[Pt(CN)4]Br0·30.3(H2O)

Using a method developed by Montgomery we have measured simultaneously σ_| and σ_⊥ the conductivities parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis respectively in single crystals of K₂[Pt(CN)₄]Br_0·30.3(H₂O). The anisotropy $\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{|}}\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{\perp }}$ is of the order of 10⁵ at room temperature but decreases to 3.10³ at 35°K.None of the hitherto proposed models allows a detailed comparison between predicted and measured anisotropy. However, the experimental results seem to contradict the two dimensional variable range hopping model. The Bloch, Weisman and Varma model predicts an infinite anisotropy and thus can not be compared with experiment.Recent diffuse X-ray scattering and NMR experiments suggest that the material becomes a band semi-conductor at low temperatures due to a Peierls instability. This model is consistent with our results. While defects and random potentials do not seem to play the dominant rôle assumed in earlier models, they may determine the longitudinal mobility of the excited carriers and hence the anisotropy.     

Temperature dependence of magnetic anisotropy in nanoparticles of CoxFe(3−x)O4

In this paper we present a study of the magnetic anisotropy constant of nanocrystalline magnetic particles of Co_xFe_(3−x)O₄, with x ranging from 0.05 to 1.6, synthesized by a combustion reaction. The magnetic anisotropy constants were obtained by fitting the high-field part of the major hysteresis loops with the law of approach equation down to temperatures of 4 K and up to fields of 60 kOe. The anisotropy constant depends strongly on both temperature and cobalt content x, exhibiting a nonmonotic dome-shaped dependence on x with a maximum at x=1.0. We found that fits at lower temperatures, i.e., 4 and 72 K, give values of K₁ that are approximately one order of magnitude higher than those at higher temperatures, i.e., 272 and 340 K. For example, K₁ for specimens with x=0.8 and 1.0 are 4.21×10⁷ and 4.22×10⁷ ergs/cm³ at 4 K, and 7.64×10⁶ and 7.51×10⁶ ergs/cm³ at 340 K, respectively. Thus, our determination of temperature-dependence of the anisotropy constant represents an improvement over existing works.