FMR and SMFMR investigation of epitaxial Fe/GaAs(0 0 1) thin films with Si and Ge overlayer

The magnetic anisotropy and magnetoelastic properties of epitaxial iron films prepared by DC magnetron sputtering on single crystal GaAs(0 0 1) substrate and covered with a protective Si or Ge layer have been investigated by means of the ferromagnetic resonance and strain-modulated ferromagnetic resonance. It has been shown that the uniaxial and cubic anisotropy constants as well as two magnetoelastic constants strongly depend on the thickness of the film. The surface components of the cubic anisotropy and magnetoelastic constants have been determined.     

Crystal field effect in the thermal expansion of hexagonal rare earth compounds

The low temperature thermal expansion in hexagonal rare earth materials exhibits crystal field effects. These are quantitatively explained with a magnetoelastic coupling of Γ₁-symmetry strains to a 1=2 quadrupolar operator of the magnetic ion. For PrNi₅ the temperature dependence of both c- and a-axis thermal expansion is correctly accounted for. For dhcp Pr both the cubic and the hexagonal sites of the Pr-ions contribute to the thermal expansion. The magnetoelastic coupling constants are an order of magnitude larger than for cubic compounds.     

Pair model of anisotropy and magnetostriction in soft amorphous magnets

A pair model for amorphous alloys has been developed, considering both the spherical symmetry (isotropic alloys) and the cylindrical one (alloys exhibiting pair ordering or microstructural anisotropy). The elastic energy has been first derived. Then starting from the Heisenberg exchange, the pseudodipolar (PSD), the cluster electric field (CEF) and the simple dipolar couplings, the magnetoelastic coupling and magnetic anisotropy energies have been written in the limiting case of a very small random anisotropy.     

Anisotropy of the oscillatory exchange coupling in magnetic multilayers

We discuss the influence of quantum-well effect on the anisotropy and oscillation period of the RKKY interaction in magnetic multilayers. Taking into account local strains we have calculated the magnetoelastic contribution to the effective coupling.     

Magnetoelastic acoustic emission in a nickel monocrystal

The influence is investigated of crystallographic anisotropy on magnetoelastic acoustic emission signals in interrelation with linear magnetostriction in a nickel monocrystal. A mathematical model is proposed for the measuring channel that sets up a direct proportional dependence between the rms voltage of the MAE signals and the linear magnetostriction of ferromagnets. It is shown experimentally that the MAE signal parameters manifest the anisotropy properties, are independent of the sign of magnetostriction, and reflect the magnetostriction deformation process of the whole bulk of the magnetically reversible crystal.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 36–41, December, 1990.     

Theory of birefringence of sound in easy-plane rhombohedral antiferromagnets with inclusion of hexagonal anisotropy and mechanical stresses

The constructed thermodynamic theory of magnetic birefringence of transverse sound in easyplane weak ferromagnets with an axial basal anisotropy induced by boundary conditions has been generalized to the case of additional inclusion of the hexagonal anisotropy enhanced by isotropic mechanical stresses. The magnetoelastic contribution ΔC _a to the effective elastic modulus C ₄₄^eff = C ₄₄ + ΔC _a , which determines the phase velocity of the magnetic mode of the acoustic wave in a crystal, has been calculated. It has been shown that the induced anisotropy with the twofold and sixfold symmetry leads to the appearance of an additional anisotropic term of the fourfold symmetry in the contribution ΔC _a . The developed theory has made it possible to satisfactorily describe the existing experiments.     

Electronic structures and magnetocrystalline anisotropy energies of ordered Co1-xNix alloys: a first principles study

The electronic structures and magnetocrystalline anisotropy(MA) of ordered hexagonal close-packed(hcp) Co1-xNix alloys are studied using the full-potential linear-augmented-plane-wave(FLAPW) method with generalized gradient approximation(GGA).Great changes of magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy(MAE) are gained with different Ni compositions.Also,in-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy is obtained for Co 15 Ni in which the Snoek’s limit is exceeded.It is found that the changes of the symmetry of the crystal field on Ni induce small variations in band structures around the Fermi level under different compositions,which plays an important role in modulating the magnetization direction,where the hybridization between Co-3d and Ni-3d orbits is of special importance in deciding the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of itinerant states.The rigid-band model is inapplicable to explain the evolution of magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy with Ni composition,and it is also inadequate to predict the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy through the anisotropy of the orbital magnetic moment.     

First-principles study on magnetism of different dimensional Ru systems

The magnetism, the magnetocrystalline anisotropy and the optical properties of the monolayer and atomic chain of 4d transition-metal Ru are investigated by using the full-potential linearized-augmented-plane-wave method in a generalized gradient approximation. The magnetic moments are 1.039~μ __B/atom and 1.130~μ_B/atom for the monolayer and atomic chain, respectively. Both systems have large magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE). The magnetic easy axis is normal to the monolayer and perpendicular to the chain axis in the atomic chain. The optical properties of the two low-dimensional Ru systems are investigated by calculating the complex optical conductivity tensor. Both systems exhibit anisotropy in photoconductivity, especially for the atomic chain. The physical origins of MAE and photoconductivity are studied based on electronic structures. It is found that the changes in crystal field caused by different symmetry-breaking mechanisms in the two low-dimensional Ru systems result in MAE through spin--orbit coupling, while the anisotropy in photoconductivity mainly comes from the crystallographic anisotropy.     

On the magnetoelastic contribution to the magnetic anisotropy of thin epitaxial Permalloy films: an ab initio study

Permalloy films are often used in the magnetic thin film technology. It is expected that in this material the magnetoelastic coupling of the magnetization to the epitaxial film strain does not produce undesired magnetic anisotropy, because the linear magnetoelastic bulk coefficient B₁ of Permalloy is near-zero. It is shown by means of the ab initio density functional electron theory that the nonvanishing nonlinear magnetoelastic couplings also do not lead to a considerable anisotropy. Explicit values for two of the nonlinear magnetoelastic coupling coefficients are given.     

Thermal expansion and magnetostriction of GdAg2, and relations to the magnetoelastic paradox

The antiferromagnet GdAg₂ has been shown to be a good model system for the magnetoelastic paradox (MEP), because it exhibits large symmetry conserving magnetoelastic strains and the antiferromagnetic propagation vector breaks the tetragonal lattice symmetry (therefore a large symmetry breaking magnetoelastic strain can be expected in a single magnetic structure). As in many similar Gd based compounds no symmetry breaking strain has been found in the experiment. In order to investigate this MEP further, we have measured magnetostriction and magnetization on a textured polycrystal. The behaviour closely resembles that of GdNi₂B₂C, the prototype system for the magnetoelastic paradox (MEP). Our forced magnetostriction data indicate that the crystal distorts in applied magnetic field and gives further evidence that the MEP is a low field effect. The observed phase transitions are in agreement with available specific heat and neutron diffraction data. Moreover, the saturation magnetic field was measured in high pulsed magnetic fields and agrees well with the value calculated from the Standard Model of Rare Earth Magnetism (SMREM).     

A finite element analysis of the bending of crystalline plates due to anisotropic surface and film stress applied to magnetoelasticity

The bending of crystalline plates in response to a non-isotropic stress on one of the two surfaces is investigated with special attention to magnetoelastic effects. The crystalline plates are assumed to have cubic symmetry, expose either (1 0 0) or (1 1 1) surfaces, and be clamped along one edge. It is shown that the effect of clamping can be described by a dimensionless parameter, the “dimensionality” D, which in general depends on the length-to-width ratio of the sample, the Poisson ratio ν, and the elastic anisotropy A. Using a finite element analysis we find that the dimensionality parameters for anisotropic and isotropic surface stresses are identical. The theory is applied to the bending caused by magnetoelastic stresses in deposited thin films. Expressions are derived to calculate the magnetoelastic coupling constants of films with cubic, tetragonal, or hexagonal symmetry from a measurement of the change of radius of curvature of the film–substrate composite upon an in-plane reorientation of the film magnetization.     

Ni50.5Mn24.5G25单晶的预马氏体相变特性

通过交流磁化率、电阻、有无磁场下的预相变应变、磁致伸缩和磁化强度测量，系统研究了近正配分比Ni505Mn245Ga25单晶的预马氏体相变特性.在自由样品中观察到预马氏体相变应变.在预相变点，沿[010]方向施加大小约为80kA/m的磁场，在晶体母相的[001]方向上获得了高达505ppm的磁致伸缩，该值是相同条件下晶体母相磁致伸缩量的5倍多.同时，报道了不同方向磁场对预相变应变干预的结果.利用软模凝结的概念和依据单晶生长的特点，分析了预相变应变产生的机理.而磁场干预预相变应变的机理是磁场增大的磁弹耦合导致的晶格形变与材料内禀形变的竞争.利用磁性测量结果证实和解释了预相变过程中[001]和[010]轴方向间进一步增大的各向异性.进而对磁场沿[001]和[010]两个晶体学方向所导致的应变特性的差别，包括最大磁致伸缩、饱和预相变应变、饱和场等，进行了分析和讨论. 关键词： 预马氏体相变 应变 磁致伸缩 磁弹耦合     

Spontaneous symmetry-breaking vortex lattice transitions in pure niobium

We report an extensive investigation of magnetic vortex lattice (VL) structures in single crystals of pure niobium with the magnetic field applied parallel to a fourfold symmetry axis, so as to induce frustration between the cubic crystal symmetry and hexagonal VL coordination expected in an isotropic situation. We observe new VL structures and phase transitions; all the VL phases observed (including those with an exactly square unit cell) spontaneously break some crystal symmetry. One phase even has the lowest possible symmetry of a two-dimensional Bravais lattice. This is quite unlike the situation in high-Tc or borocarbide superconductors, where VL structures orient along particular directions of high crystal symmetry. The causes of this behavior are discussed.     

Magnetic and Elastic Vibrations in Manganese–Zinc Spinel Crystals as the Functions of Anisotropy Constant

The amplitudes of magnetic and elastic vibrations for Mn_0.61Zn_0.35Fe_2.04O₄ spinel crystalline slab are calculated by solving the equations describing the magnetic and elastic dynamics. The anisotropy constants, magnetization, second-order elastic constants and magnetoelastic coupling constants for a studied crystal are expressed as the functions of temperature. The magnetization vector and elastic shear components are found as the functions of the first magnetic anisotropy constant at different values of an external constant magnetic field greater than a saturation field. The procession patterns for normally and tangentially magnetized slabs are displayed for two values of the first anisotropy constant. High absolute values of the first anisotropy constant are shown to refer to reorientation of the magnetization vector.     

Magnetoelastic effects in multiferroic YMnO3

We have investigated magnetoelastic effects in multiferroic YMnO(3) below the antiferromagnetic phase transition, T(N) ≈ 70 K, using neutron powder diffraction. The a lattice parameter of the hexagonal unit cell of YMnO(3) decreases normally above T(N), but decreases anomalously below T(N), whereas the c lattice parameter increases with decreasing temperature and then increases anomalously below T(N). The unit cell volume also undergoes an anomalous contraction below T(N). By fitting the background thermal expansion for a non-magnetic lattice with the Einstein-Grüneisen equation, we determined the lattice strains Δa, Δc and ΔV due to the magnetoelastic effects as a function of temperature. We have also determined the temperature variation of the ordered magnetic moment of the Mn ion by fitting the measured Bragg intensities of the nuclear and magnetic reflections with the known crystal and magnetic structure models and have established that the lattice strain due to the magnetoelastic effect in YMnO(3) couples with the square of the ordered magnetic moment or the square of the order parameter of the antiferromagnetic phase transition.     

Magnetization process in holmium: easy axis spin reorientation induced by the magnetostrictive basal plane distortion

We report on the change of the easy axis direction in holmium, from the a to the b axis, under the application of a magnetic field in the basal plane. This spin reorientation is observed by measuring the magnetic torque in Ho(n)/Lu(15) superlattices (n and 15 are the number of atomic planes in the Ho and Lu blocks). We also observe that, at the field H0 and temperature at which the reorientation occurs, both axes are easy directions. Based on the fact that the field H0 depends on n in the same way as the field-induced magnetoelastic distortion does, we propose that this spin reorientation originates from the strong field-induced magnetoelastic deformation within the basal plane. The modulation of the alpha strains with sixfold symmetry originates a 12-fold term in the magnetic anisotropy energy.     

Ultrasonic velocities near the spin-reorientation transitions in ErFeO3 at high pressure

Longitudinal and shear sound velocities have been measured near the spin-reorientation transitions in ErFeO₃ at hydrostatic pressure up to 2.4 kbar. The results, which are analyzed in terms of a phenomenological theory with magnetoelastic coupling terms, show that hydrostatic pressure has a very small effect on the magnetic anisotropy constants.     

Manifestation of basal-plane anisotropy and mechanical boundary conditions in magnetic birefringence of sound in hematite

The angular dependence of the magnetic birefringence of sound in hematite is experimentally investigated as a function of the direction of a magnetic field applied in the basal plane of the hematite crystal. It is found that, at room temperature, the curve of magnetoacoustic oscillations in the magnetic field, i.e., the oscillatory dependence of the amplitude of an acoustic wave transmitted through the crystal on the magnetic field strength, is characterized by hexagonal and uniaxial anisotropy. It is shown that the hexagonal anisotropy is governed by the basal-plane anisotropy of higher orders. The appearance of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the basal plane of the crystal is explained by the mechanical stresses arising in the sample when piezoelectric transducers are glued to the sample ends. This assumption is confirmed by the observed change in the direction of the uniaxial anisotropy axis under variations in the boundary conditions.     

Ferroelectricity induced by acentric spin-density waves in YMn2O5

The commensurate and incommensurate magnetic structures of the magnetoelectric system YMn2O5, as determined from neutron diffraction, were found to be spin-density waves lacking a global center of symmetry. We propose a model, based on a simple magnetoelastic coupling to the lattice, which enables us to predict the polarization based entirely on the observed magnetic structure. Our data accurately reproduce the temperature dependence of the spontaneous polarization, particularly its sign reversal at the commensurate-incommensurate transition.