Chirality of a forming spin spring and remagnetization features of a bilayer ferromagnetic system

Distribution of a magnetic moment in an exchange-coupled bilayer Fe/SmCo epitaxial structure grown on a (110) MgO substrate is visualized by the magnetooptic indicator film technique. The direction and the magnitude of the effective magnetization in this structure are determined both under external magnetic fields of variable magnitude and direction and after the removal of these fields. It is shown that such a heterostructure is remagnetized by a nonuniform rotation of a magnetic moment both along the thickness of a sample and in its plane. A field antiparallel to the axis of unidirectional anisotropy gives rise to spin springs with opposite chiralities in different regions of the magnetically soft ferromagnetic layer. The contributions of these springs to the net magnetization cancel out, thus decreasing the averaged magnetic moment and the remanent magnetization without their rotation. When the external field deviates from the easy axis, the balance is violated and the sample exhibits a quasi-uniform rotation of the magnetic moment. Asymmetry in the rotation of the magnetic moment is observed under the reversal of the field as well as under repeated remagnetization cycles. It is established that a monochiral spin spring is also formed in a rotating in-plane magnetic field when the magnitude of the field exceeds the critical value. Possible mechanisms of remagnetization in this system are discussed with regard to the original disordered orientation of magnetization of the magnetically soft layer with respect to the easy axis, which is defined by the variance of unidirectional anisotropy axes of this layer on the interface.     

Unidirectional anisotropy in (<Emphasis Type="Italic">RE-TM</Emphasis>)/NiFe film systems

The quasi-static magnetic parameters of TbFe/NiFe and DyCo/NiFe bilayer exchange-biased films characterized by unidirectional anisotropy are studied. The characteristic temperatures are determined at which the unidirectional anisotropy disappears due to processes in the magnetically hard layer. The mechanisms responsible for the appearance of unidirectional anisotropy associated with the heterophase property of the magnetically hard layer are analyzed.     

Parameters of the transition layer in the exchange-biased NiFe/DyCo film structure

The parameters of the transition layer in exchange-biased film structures are necessary agents to understand the mechanism of formation of unidirectional anisotropy. The layer thickness in NiFe/DyCo films has been determined by comparison of signals of the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect from a reference DyCo film and a hard magnetic layer of the exchange-biased structure. The layer thickness obtained is one order of magnitude larger than that characteristic of ferromagnet-antiferromagnet bilayer films. The mechanism of magnetization reversal of the structure under study has been explained within the model suggesting the formation of 180° boundaries in the interface.     

Hard magnetic CoCr layer in ferromagnetic tunnel junctions

In magnetic tunnel junctions a highly spin-polarizing layer is usually exchange biased by an antiferromagnetic layer, an artificial antiferromagnetic layer system or a combination of both, while the magnetically soft layer is free to rotate. The use of a single layer of a hard magnetic material is rarely investigated up to now. In this paper, we present the electric and magnetic properties of tunnel junctions with a hard magnetic Co₈₃Cr₁₇ layer. The soft magnetic electrode consists of either a single Co layer or a Co/Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ bilayer. The magnetic anisotropy and coercive field H_C of the CoCr layer depend on its thickness and the kind of the bottom layer (Cu or Ta) and can vary from H_C=50–700 Oe. It is found that a thin Co cap layer also influences the hysteretic behavior. Furthermore, only small changes after annealing up to 450°C promise a high thermal stability for the application in magnetic tunnel junctions. Measurements of the tunnel magnetoresistance on large area junctions, however, show a strong magnetic coupling of the hard and soft electrodes.     

Exchange-coupling-induced fourfold magnetic anisotropy in CoFeB/FeRh bilayer grown on SrTiO3(001)

Exchange coupling across the interface between a ferromagnetic (FM) layer and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) or another FM layer may induce a unidirectional magnetic anisotropy and/or a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, which has been extensively studied due to the important application in magnetic materials and devices. In this work, we observed a fourfold magnetic anisotropy in amorphous CoFeB layer when exchange coupling to an adjacent FeRh layer which is epitaxially grown on an SrTiO₃(001) substrate. As the temperature rises from 300 K to 400 K, FeRh film undergoes a phase transition from AFM to FM phase, the induced fourfold magnetic anisotropy in the CoFeB layer switches the orientation from the FeRh$\langle 110\rangle $ to FeRh$\langle 100\rangle $ directions and the strength is obviously reduced. In addition, the effective magnetic damping as well as the two-magnon scattering of the CoFeB/FeRh bilayer also remarkably increase with the occurrence of magnetic phase transition of FeRh. No exchange bias is observed in the bilayer even when FeRh is in the nominal AFM state, which is probably because the residual FM FeRh moments located at the interface can well separate the exchange coupling between the below pinned FeRh moments and the CoFeB moments.     

Characteristic features of ferromagnetic resonance in iron-garnet films with orthorhombic magnetic anisotropy

The characteristic features of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) were studied in bismuth-containing single-crystal iron-garnet films (BSIGFs) with no rapidly relaxing ions and relatively weak orthorhombic magnetic anisotropy (ORMA). The films were grown on (110) and (210) substrates by liquid-phase epitaxy from a supercooled flux solution. Attention is focused mainly on the unidirectional magnetic anisotropy in the film plane and on the effect of the film/substrate transitional surface layer on the FMR spectrum. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1254–1258 (July 1999)     

退火对IrMn基磁隧道结多层膜热稳定性的影响

采用磁控溅射方法制备了结构为IrMn/CoFe/AlO_x/CoFe的磁性隧道结多层膜,样品置于真空磁场中进行退火处理. 将在不同温度退火的磁隧道结结构多层膜置于负饱和场中等待,研究退火温度对样品热稳定性的影响. 结果表明:退火提高了多层膜反铁磁层的单轴各向异性能,增加了样品的交换偏置;随着负饱和场等待时间的延长,被钉扎层的磁滞回线向正场偏移,交换偏置单调减小,但退火减弱了这种趋势. 关键词： 磁隧道结 交换偏置 磁化反转     

Magnetic anisotropy in IrMn/Co structures with an alternative sequence of deposition of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic layers

The preparation conditions and the magnitudes of the uniaxial and unidirectional magnetic anisotropies of IrMn/Co structures with an alternative sequence of deposition of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic layers upon heat treatment and cooling in an external magnetic field have been investigated. It has been revealed that the unidirectional anisotropy (exchange bias) arises in the structure with an antiferromagnetic layer deposited on a ferromagnetic layer (TS structure) at an annealing temperature of higher than 100°C. In structures with a ferromagnetic layer deposited on an antiferromagnetic layer (BS structure), the exchange bias does not arise in the annealing temperature range under investigation. The possible factors responsible for this effect and the ratio between the temperature of the appearance of the exchange bias and the Néel temperature have been discussed.     

Tuning magnetic properties of magnetoelectric BiFeO3-NiFe2O4 nanostructures

Multifunctional thin film nanostructures containing soft magnetic materials such as nickel ferrite are interesting for potential applications in microwave signal processing because of the possibility to shrink the size of device architecture and limit device power consumption. An essential prerequisite to future applications of such a system is a firm understanding of its magnetic properties. We show that nanostructures composed of ferrimagnetic NiFe₂O₄ pillars in a multiferroic BiFeO₃ matrix can be tuned magnetically by altering the aspect ratio of the pillars by depositing films of varying thickness. Magnetic anisotropy is studied using ferromagnetic resonance, which shows that the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the growth direction changes sign upon increasing the film thickness. The magnitude of this anisotropy contribution can be explained via a combination of shape and magnetostatic effects, using the object-oriented micromagnetic framework (OOMMF). The key factors determining the magnetic properties of the films are shown to be the aspect ratio of individual pillars and magnetostatic interactions between neighboring pillars.     

具有条纹磁畴结构的NiFe薄膜的制备与磁各向异性研究

具有条纹磁畴结构的磁性薄膜表现出面内转动磁各向异性,对于解决高频电子器件的方向性问题起着至关重要的作用.本文采用射频磁控溅射的方法,研究了NiFe薄膜的厚度、溅射功率密度、溅射气压等制备工艺参数对条纹磁畴结构、面内静态磁各向异性、面内转动磁各向异性、垂直磁各向异性的影响规律.研究发现,在功率密度15.6 W/cm~2与溅射气压2 mTorr(1 Torr=1.33322×102Pa)下生长的NiFe薄膜,表现出条纹磁畴的临界厚度在250 nm到300 nm之间.厚度为300 nm的薄膜比250 nm薄膜的垂直磁各向异性场增大近一倍,从而磁矩偏离膜面形成条纹磁畴结构,并表现出面内转动磁各向异性.高溅射功率密度可以降低薄膜出现条纹磁畴的临界厚度.在相同功率密度15.6 W/cm~2下生长300 nm的NiFe薄膜,随着溅射气压由2 mTorr增大到9 mTorr,NiFe薄膜的垂直磁各向异性场逐渐由1247.8 Oe(1 Oe=79.5775 A/m)增大到3248.0 Oe,面内转动磁各向异性场由72.5 Oe增大到141.9 Oe,条纹磁畴周期从0.53μm单调减小到0.24μm.NiFe薄膜的断面结构表明柱状晶的形成是表现出条纹磁畴结构的本质原因,高功率密度下低溅射气压有利于柱状晶结构的形成,表现出规整的条纹磁畴结构,高溅射气压会导致柱状晶纤细化,面内转动磁各向异性与面外垂直磁各向异性增强,条纹磁畴结构变得混乱.     

Optical anisotropy of magnetosome-doped polymer films

The anisotropy of several PVA/magnetosome magnetically textured films has been investigated. The thin film synthesized under the influence of a magnetic field (99 mT) shows the typical behavior of an anisotropic material. The results show that the magnetic field applied during the synthesis promotes an orientation of the chains of magnetosomes and permanent textured film is obtained after solidification.     

交换耦合相互作用对纳米晶粒各向异性的影响

研究纳米磁性材料晶粒间的交换耦合相互作用,提出适合各种耦合条件晶粒界面及表面处各向异性的表达式.结果表明:软、硬磁性相晶粒间的交换耦合相互作用降低了硬磁性相晶粒的各向异性,提高了软磁性相晶粒的各向异性.软硬磁性晶粒的平均各向异性先增加后减小,在某个晶粒尺寸值达到最大值,这种变化趋势与相关的理论及实验结果一致.硬硬磁性晶粒的平均各向异性随晶粒尺寸的变化趋势与相关的实验结果也一致.     

Asymmetric impedance in field-annealed Co-based amorphous wires and its bias field dependence

Giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) was measured in Joule heated Co_68.18Fe_4.32Si_12.5B₁₅ amorphous wires. Samples heat treated in open air showed an asymmetric giant magnetoimpedance (AGMI) behaviour. The AGMI profile, measured at selected frequency values and bias circumferential fields, can be related to the exchange bias interaction between the soft magnetic amorphous material and a harder magnetic crystalline phase formed on the surface of the wire. The present data show that AGMI behaviour take place owing to a soft magnetic layer with unidirectional anisotropy that develops in the surface of the wire.     

Magnetization reversal in CoPt-based hard–soft homocomposites

CoPt-based hard–soft sputtered bilayers with (1 1 1) texture have been produced by appropriate heat treatment of the bottom layer. Two samples with different degrees of chemical ordering of the hard layer are compared. The anisotropy of the hard layer determines its robustness against destabilization from the soft one. Detailed measurements of the soft layer minor hysteresis loop features as a function of the magnetic state of the hard layer are proposed as a means to study the nature of interfacial exchange interactions and the mechanism of magnetization reversal. When hard layer anisotropy is not robust enough, the reversed soft layer can induce irreversible changes to the magnetic structure at the interface leading to a decoupling of exchange field from the magnetic state of the hard layer.     

NdFeB纳米复合永磁材料的交换耦合相互作用和有效各向异性

以Nd₂Fe₁₄B/αFe为例，采用立方体晶粒结构模型，研究了纳米复合永磁材料中不同磁性晶粒间的交换耦合相互作用和有效各向异性.纳米复合永磁材料的有效各向异性Keff等于软、硬磁性相各向异性的统计平均值，每个晶粒的各向异性由晶粒表面交换耦合部分和晶粒内部未交换耦合部分的各向异性共同确定.计算结果表明，软、硬磁性相晶粒尺寸分布显著地影响有效各向异性Keff的值.当软、硬磁性晶粒尺寸D相同时，Keff随晶粒尺寸和硬磁性相体积分数的降低而减小, 当D<20nm 时，K 关键词： 纳米复合永磁材料 交换耦合相互作用 有效各向异性 晶粒尺寸     

各向异性场对三明治膜巨磁阻抗效应的影响

根据具有巨磁阻抗(GMI)效应的实际三明治样品的状况，提出三明治结构作为理论计算的模型，考虑了磁性层的各向异性场，利用一定边界条件下的Maxwell方程和Landau-Lifshitz方程对模型进行了理论计算，得到了阻抗与频率、各向异性场等因素间的函数关系.在此基础上，着重讨论了各向异性场H_k的作用.H_k的大小、方向均会对GMI效应造成影响，最佳的H_k应在400A/m左右，位于面内并与电流垂直.还证实了三明治结构中磁性层的磁致伸缩只会减弱G 关键词： 巨磁阻抗(GMI)效应 三明治膜 Maxwell方程 Landau-Lifshitz方程     

Soft magnetization of a semi-hard/soft magnetic bilayer produced by oblique-incidence evaporation

The possibility of achieving soft magnetization in semi-hard magnetic films such as Fe, Fe_93.5Si_6.5, Fe₅₀Co₅₀ and Fe₇₀Co₃₀ is investigated by depositing films on an Fe₂₀Ni₈₀ underlayer by oblique-incidence evaporation. The magnetic anisotropy of the underlayer is strengthened to a depth of several lattice parameters by vapor deposition of the film at an oblique angle to the substrate surface. This method also allows magnetic anisotropy to be induced in strongly isotropic semi-hard magnetic overlayers to a thickness of a few thousands Angstroms. The coercive force of bilayer films measured along the hard-axis is reduced remarkably by this process, and the strength of the anisotropy field is demonstrated to be readily controllable. When magnetic anisotropy exists in both magnetic layers, a significant change is observed in the magnetization processes of the semi-hard magnetic layer and the coercive forces in the hard magnetization direction is dramatically reduced. Soft magnetization of the semi-hard magnetic layer cannot be achieved when magnetic anisotropy exists in only one of the magnetic layers.     

正交各向异性双层交换弹簧薄膜的磁矩分布

本文以Pt_(84)Co_(16)/TbFeCo双层交换弹簧体系为研究对象,利用微磁学连续模型,研究了软/硬磁层易轴方向相互垂直的新型体系中磁矩的分布特征.研究结果表明,磁矩偏离薄膜法线方向的角度在软磁层中沿膜厚方向的变化速率比硬磁层中的快.通过调节软磁层参数来增加软/硬磁的各向异性常数比、交换能常数比、饱和磁化强度比或外磁场强度,都可有效改变磁矩偏角在软/硬磁层中的变化速率.特别是当软/硬磁各向异性常数比值和交换能常数比值同时增大时,可以使得磁矩在硬磁层中的变化速率快于软磁层中的.而饱和磁化强度比值对磁矩变化速率的影响源于饱和磁化强度的变化会相应地改变各向异性常数,进而改变磁矩在软/硬磁层中磁矩方向变化速率的比值.此体系的磁滞回线显示磁性参数的改变可以显著改变体系的剩磁及饱和磁场.软磁层中的退磁场能及体系的正交各向异性可导致负的成核场.     

引入纳米氧化层的CoFe/Pd双层膜结构中增强的垂直磁各向异性研究

制备了CoFe/Pd双层结构的界面处或CoFe层 内部引入纳米氧化层后的系列薄膜. 研究结果显示, 引入纳米氧化层后, 可以使薄膜的磁各向异性在退火后从面内转到垂直膜面方向. 并且对于在CoFe层内部引入纳米氧化层的这类样品, 其强烈的垂直磁性可以在相当宽的有效磁性层厚度范围内(1.2-2 nm)维持. 在保持垂直磁性的前提下, 这种特殊的双层膜结构中CoFe磁性层厚度比常规CoFe/Pd 多层膜中的CoFe层厚度至少多出1.4 nm. 本文的研究有助于制备出具有较高热稳定性的垂直磁性器件电极.     

Dependence of Magnetic Properties on Composition of Nanocrystalline Fe–M–B–Cu (M: Zr,Nb, Mo,Ti, Ta) Alloys

The specialized rf-Mössbauer technique is used to elucidate the magnetic properties of NANOPERM-type nanocrystalline alloys. The influence of alloy composition on the soft magnetic properties is studied for the Fe₈₀M₇B₁₂Cu₁ (M: Ti, Ta, Nb, Mo, Zr) alloys. The rf-Mössbauer experiments allowed us to distinguish magnetically soft nanoclusters from magnetically harder microcrystalline phases. The measurements performed as a function of the rf field intensity allowed the determination of the distribution of anisotropy fields related to the size distribution of bcc nanoclusters. Smaller anisotropy fields in the nanocrystalline phase were found in Nb-, Zr-, and Mo-containing alloys as compared with the alloys which contain Ti and Ta. The Mössbauer measurements were supplemented by X-ray diffraction determination of the size of nanocrystalline grains.