Reliable control of magnetic vortex chirality in asymmetrically optimized magnetic nanodisk

Magnetic vortex has attracted attention in the field of information storage because their topological spin structures with chiral bistable states. If the vortex core polarity and vortex circulation sense can be controlled simultaneously in a nanodisk, which will be more beneficial to realize the multi-bit ultrahigh density storage. In this paper, a reliable control scheme for magnetic vortex chirality is proposed by optimizing the structure of Pac-Man-like nanodisk. The results show that the polarity and circulation of the vortex can be controlled simultaneously by changing the direction of the global magnetic field, and even the chiral states of the vortex can be determined by detecting the stray field distribution on the surface of the nanodisk. The optimized Pac-Man-like nanodisk provide an experimental method for the control and detection of magnetic vortex chirality, which will be beneficial to the realization of multi-bit magnetic storage or magnetic logic technology in the future.     

Vortex chirality control in magnetic submicron dots with asymmetrical magnetic properties in lateral direction

The authors use micromagnetic simulation to investigate the magnetization reversal process of a new ferromagnetic submicron dot structure composed of a lateral gradient magnetization. The reversal process in this new structure begins at the both edges along and is perpendicular to the applied magnetic field due to introducing a demagnetizing field from the interface of the magnetization gradient. This leads to a two-stage nucleation process. Based on the analytical results, a novel submicron structure with a quarter of lateral gradient magnetization is proposed to control the chirality of a vortex, which is important for applications that use the vortex's chirality.     

MFM imaging of micron-sized permalloy ellipses

The magnetic domain structure of micron-sized elliptic permalloy elements has been studied by magnetic force microscope (MFM) measurements, and has been compared to results from micromagnetic simulations. The elements all have the same aspect ratio, whereas the inter-elemental distance has been varied. Both the zero-field states and in field domain configurations have been studied. In zero-applied field, two different stable flux-closure states were found in both the MFM measurements and in the simulations. The different stable domain states occur as a result of minute differences in the local magnetic environment occurring during the demagnetization process.     

Micromagnetic simulation of magnetic vortex cores in circular permalloy disks: Switching behavior in external magnetic field

Switching behaviors of magnetic vortex cores under external magnetic field in submicron circular permalloy disks have been systematically studied by using micromagnetic simulations. Simulation results show that the vortex core is stable in out-of-plane field even when it is located at the edge of the disk. The out-of-plane switching field H_sw is strongly dependent on the thickness of the disk. The core polarity and the vortex chirality can be modulated simultaneously on purpose by using a tilted field far smaller than the out-of-plane switching field H_sw. Moreover, it is found that the core polarities in asymmetric disks do not follow the direction of the z projection of the external saturation field.     

Magnetic elements for switching magnetization magnetic force microscopy tips

Using combination of micromagnetic calculations and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) imaging we find optimal parameters for novel magnetic tips suitable for switching magnetization MFM. Switching magnetization MFM is based on two-pass scanning atomic force microscopy with reversed tip magnetization between the scans. Within the technique the sum of the scanned data with reversed tip magnetization depicts local atomic forces, while their difference maps the local magnetic forces. Here we propose the design and calculate the magnetic properties of tips suitable for this scanning probe technique. We find that for best performance the spin-polarized tips must exhibit low magnetic moment, low switching fields, and single-domain state at remanence. The switching field of such tips is calculated and optimum shape of the Permalloy elements for the tips is found. We show excellent correspondence between calculated and experimental results for Py elements.     

Deforming and moving a vortex by the tip of a magnetic force microscope

Recent experiments [O.M. Auslaender et al., Nat. Phys. 5 (2009) 35] use a magnetic force microscope not only to image but also to move and deform an individual vortex line in a bulk YBCO type-II superconductor. The theory of this experiment is presented accounting for pinning and curving of the vortex and for the full three-dimensional anisotropy of pinning and of vortex line tension in this material.     

Design and synthesis of plasmonic magnetic nanoparticles

Core–shell nanoparticles containing both iron oxide and gold are proposed for bioseparation applications. The surface plasmon resonance of gold makes it possible to track the positions of individual particles, even when they are smaller than the optical diffraction limit. The synthesis of water-dispersible iron oxide-gold nanoparticles is described. Absorption spectra show the plasmon peaks for Au shells on silica particles, suggesting that thin shells may be sufficient to impart a strong surface plasmon resonance to iron oxide-gold nanoparticles. Dark field optical microscopy illustrates the feasibility of single-particle detection. Calculations of magnetophoretic and drag forces for particles of different sizes reveal design requirements for effective separation of these small particles.     

MFM studies of magnetic domain patterns in bulk barium ferrite (BaFe12O19) single crystals

Magnetic domain patterns in bulk barium ferrite (BaFe₁₂O₁₉; BaM) single crystals on the basal plane and the prism plane were measured and studied by magnetic force microscopy (MFM). The surface domain pattern is in the form of flowers or star on the basal plane and long elongated spikes or stripe domains on the prism plane. The change in domain structure with applied field (H_app) and the thickness (T) dependence on domain width (δ) was observed. The domain width decreased from 32 to 9 μm for the crystals of 800-100 μm thicknesses, respectively.     

电流调控磁涡旋的极性和旋性

提出了一种特殊自旋阀结构, 其极化层(钉扎层)磁矩沿面内方向, 自由层磁矩成磁涡旋结构. 自由层在形状上设计成左右两边厚度不同的阶梯形圆盘. 微磁学模拟研究发现, 通过调控所施加的高斯型脉冲电流的大小、方向和脉冲宽度, 可以实现磁涡旋的不同旋性、不同极性的组态控制. 分析了该结构中电流调控磁涡旋旋性和极性的物理原因和微观机理.     

Site-specific chirality in magnetic transitions

We report site-specific energy loss magnetic dichroism measurements of the technologically interesting Heusler alloy Ni₂MnSn. In addition, we confirm the theoretical prediction that under certain conditions, two different atoms on inequivalent lattice sites give dichroic signals with opposite signs. With this, it is possible to distinguish the magnetic moments of atomic columns that are merely 1.5 Å apart using a conventional transmission electron microscope without the need for aberration corrections.     

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.     

In-plane magnetic pattern separation in NiFe/NiO and Co/NiO exchange biased bilayers investigated by magnetic force microscopy

Ion bombardment induced magnetic patterning (IBMP) was used to write in-plane magnetized micro and submicron patterns in exchange biased magnetic bilayers, where the magnetization directions of the adjacent patterns are antiparallel to each other in remanence. These magnetic patterns were investigated by non-contact magnetic force microscopy (MFM). It is shown that the recorded MFM images of the IBMP patterns in two exemplarily chosen standard layer systems (NiFe (4.8 nm)/NiO (68 nm) and Co (4.8 nm)/NiO (68 nm)) can be well described by a model within the point-dipole approximation for the tip magnetization. For 5 and 0.9 μm wide bar patterns the domain wall widths between adjacent magnetically patterned areas were determined to a≈1 μm. The minimum magnetically stable pattern width was estimated to be 0.7 μm in the standard system Co (4.8 nm)/NiO (68 nm).     

Characterization of magnetic nanoparticles by a modular Hall magnetometer

The magnetization of iron oxide, nickel and cobalt ferrite nanoparticles was successfully measured by using a modular magnetometer. The magnetometer was built by combining stand-alone equipments usually available at most laboratories such as a Gaussmeter, an electromagnet, a current source and a linear actuator. The magnetic moment sensitivity attained was about 10⁻⁶ Am² and the results were checked against measurements made on commercial VSM and SQUID magnetometers showing few percent errors.     

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.     

Scanning Hall probe microscopy of vortex matter

Scanning Hall probe microscopy (SHPM) is a novel scanned probe magnetic imaging technique whereby the stray fields at the surface of a sample are mapped with a sub-micron semiconductor heterostructure Hall probe. In addition an integrated scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) or atomic force microscope (AFM) tip allows the simultaneous measurement of the sample topography, which can then be correlated with magnetic images. SHPM has several advantages over alternative methods; it is almost completely non-invasive, can be used over a very wide range of temperatures (0.3–300 K) and magnetic fields (0–7 T) and yields quantitative maps of the z-component of magnetic induction. The approach is particularly well suited to low temperature imaging of vortices in type II superconductors with very high signal:noise ratios and relatively high spatial resolution (>100 nm). This paper will introduce the design principles of SHPM including the choice of semiconductor heterostructure for different measurement conditions as well as surface tracking and scanning mechanisms. The full potential of the technique will be illustrated with results of vortex imaging studies of three distinct superconducting systems: (i) vortex chains in the “crossing lattices” regime of highly anisotropic cuprate superconductors, (ii) vortex–antivortex pairs spontaneously nucleated in ferromagnetic-superconductor hybrid structures, and (iii) vortices in the exotic p-wave superconductor Sr₂RuO₄ at milliKelvin temperatures.     

Origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and evolution of magnetic domain structure of amorphous Pr-TM-B (TM=Fe, Co) films

In this study, the deposition pressure dependence of the compositional ratio, magnetic domain structure, and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of B-containing PrFe- and PrCo-based films, which are rare-earth-transition-metal (RE-TM) films, was investigated. PrFe- and PrCo-based films were fabricated by magnetron sputtering. The film compositions were controlled in a wide range by varying the deposition pressure. On the basis of experimental results, the residual stress of the films was considered to be the possible origin of their PMA. The films showed strong magneto-optical effects over the entire wavelength range of 300-750 nm. Because of the excellent magnetic and magneto-optical (MO) properties of the films, they have high potential for MO applications at wavelengths of red and blue lasers.     

Numerical study of magnetic nanoparticles concentration in biofluid (blood) under influence of high gradient magnetic field

Ferrofluids are widely used in pharmaceutical industries as magnetic separation tools, anti-cancer drug carriers and micro-valve applications. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of a magnetic field on the volume concentration of magnetic nanoparticles of a non-Newtonian biofluid (blood) as a drug carrier. The effect of particles on the flow field is considered. The governing non-linear differential equations, concentration and Naviar-stokes are coupled with the magnetic field. To solve these equations, a finite volume based code is developed and utilized. The results show accumulation of magnetic nanoparticles near the magnetic source until it looks like a solid object. The accumulation of nanoparticles is due to the magnetic force that overcomes the fluid drag force. As the magnetic strength and size of the magnetic particles increase, the accumulation of nanoparticles increases, as well. The magnetic susceptibility of particles also affects the flow field and the contour of the concentration considerably.     

Synthesis and characterization of noscapine loaded magnetic polymeric nanoparticles

The delivery of noscapine therapies directly to the site of the tumor would ultimately allow higher concentrations of the drug to be delivered, and prolong circulation time in vivo to enhance the therapeutic outcome of this drug. Therefore, we sought to design magnetic based polymeric nanoparticles for the site directed delivery of noscapine to invasive tumors. We synthesized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with an average size of 10±2.5 nm. These Fe₃O₄ NPs were used to prepare noscapine loaded magnetic polymeric nanoparticles (NMNP) with an average size of 252±6.3 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy showed the encapsulation of noscapine on the surface of the polymer matrix. The encapsulation of the Fe₃O₄ NPs on the surface of the polymer was confirmed by elemental analysis. We studied the drug loading efficiency of polylactide acid (PLLA) and poly (l-lactide acid-co-gylocolide) (PLGA) polymeric systems of various molecular weights. Our findings revealed that the molecular weight of the polymer plays a crucial role in the capacity of the drug loading on the polymer surface. Using a constant amount of polymer and Fe₃O₄ NPs, both PLLA and PLGA at lower molecule weights showed higher loading efficiencies for the drug on their surfaces.     

In situ magnetic hysteresis measurement of magnetic tips in magnetic force microscope

In situ magnetic hysteresis measurements of magnetic tips in a magnetic force microscope (MFM) are demonstrated using alternating gradient force magnetometry. The measured magnetic moments of MFM tips are estimated in the range from 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁵ emu by this technique and the whole MFM tips in cantilevers are considered to be measured from the value of measured magnetic moments. The relationship between the magnetic hysteresis loops of MFM tips and those of coated magnetic films is discussed.