The origin of noncollinear anisotropies and asymmetric magnetization reversal in FM/AFM bilayer system

The effects of the magnitude of the uniaxial anisotropy of a ferromagnet and the cooling field on the noncollinearity between uniaxial anisotropy and induced unidirectional anisotropy in a ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayer system are investigated. A diagram of noncollinear anisotropies and relative negative (positive) exchange bias field dependence upon cooling field and uniaxial anisotropy of the ferromagnet is obtained. The numerical result shows that the emergence of noncollinear anisotropies originates from the action of the cooling field and uniaxial anisotropy of the ferromagnet. The noncollinearity strongly depends on the magnitude of cooling field and uniaxial anisotropy of the ferromagnet. Moreover, the effect of noncollinear anisotropies and applied field on asymmetric magnetization reversal is also investigated. Amazingly, when the magnetic field is applied collinearly with unidirectional anisotropy, the hysteresis loop of ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayers is always symmetric even if there are noncollinear anisotropies. Our results indicate that the asymmetry of the hysteresis loop only originates from the noncollinearity between the induced unidirectional anisotropy and the applied field, rather than from the noncollinearity between the uniaxial and unidirectional anisotropies.     

Topology-like dynamical behavior of magnetization reversal in exchange-bias systems

In an exchange-bias system, the barriers with intrinsic potential energy may be asymmetric due to unidirectional anisotropy. Based on the Stoner-Wohlfarth model, we show that the asymmetric barriers may lead to four kinds of dynamical process underlying the hysteresis-loop measurement. These kinds of dynamical processes are different in a topology-like property, which can be controlled by the orientation of the external field. In our study, a new analysis approach has been proposed to reveal the dynamical behaviors of magnetization reversal. With this approach, coercivity, exchange-bias field, and asymmetry of hysteresis loops can be quantitatively obtained.     

交换偏置系统中的反铁磁磁化与自旋波

采用自由能变分法研究了铁磁/反铁磁双层膜系统在反铁磁层存在净磁化下的自旋波谱.本模型中铁磁薄层具有单轴磁晶各向异性和立方磁晶各向异性,反铁磁层仅具有单轴磁晶各向异性,但厚度有限,推导出了系统铁磁共振频率的表达式.结果表明：系统的自旋波谱分光学模和声学模两种,其中光学模仅在反铁磁层存在净磁化时得到激发.自旋波谱可按外磁场强度的变化情况分为强弱两支;区分强磁场和弱磁场的临界场依赖于铁磁/反铁磁间的交换作用,反铁磁层的磁化强度以及反铁磁层的厚度等.交换偏置场对光学模的影响明显于声学模,而反铁磁的净磁化和其厚度对系统的影响紧密联系,难以区分.但当反铁磁层净磁化很小可忽略时,系统只存在声学模激发.关键词：铁磁/反铁磁双层膜反铁磁层净磁化光学模声学模     

Reversible and irreversible magnetization components behavior in Ni nanowires

Polycrystalline Ni nanowires were electrodeposited in nanoporous anodized alumina membranes with mean diameter of approximately 42 nm. Their magnetic properties were studied at 300 K, by measurements of recoil curves from demagnetized state and also from saturated state. M_rev and M_irr components were obtained and M_rev(M_irr)_H curves were constructed from the experimental data. These curves showed a behavior that suggests a non-uniform reversal mode influenced by the presence of dipolar interactions in the system. A qualitative approach to this behavior is obtained using a Stoner–Wohlfarth model modified by a mean field term and local interaction fields.     

The rotational anisotropies in the ferromagnetism/antiferromagnetism 1/ antiferromagnetism 2 exchange bias structures

The rotational anisotropies in the exchange bias structures of ferromagnetism/antiferromagnetism 1/antiferromagnetism 2 are studied in this paper. Based on the model, in which the antiferromagnetism is treated with an Ising mean field theory and the rotational anisotropy is assumed to be related to the field created by the moment induced on the antiferromagnetic layer next to the ferromagnetic layer, we can explain why in experiments for ferromagnetism (FM)/antiferromagntism 1 (AFM1)/antiferromagnetism 2 (AFM2) systems the thickness-dependent rotational anisotropy value is non-monotonic, i.e. it reaches a minimum for this system at a specific thickness of the first antiferromagnetic layer and exhibits oscillatory behaviour. In addition, we find that the temperature-dependent rotational anisotropy value is in good agreement with the experimental result.     

Stochastic simulation of thermally assisted magnetization reversal in sub-100 nm dots with perpendicular anisotropy

Thermally assisted magnetization reversal of sub-100 nm dots with perpendicular anisotropy has been investigated using a micromagnetic Langevin model. The performance of the two different reversal modes of (i) a reduced barrier writing scheme and (ii) a Curie point writing scheme are compared. For the reduced barrier writing scheme, the switching field H_swt decreases with an increase in writing temperature but is still larger than that of the Curie point writing scheme. For the Curie point writing scheme, the required threshold field H_th, evaluated from 50 simulation results, saturates at a value, which is not simply related to the energy barrier height. The value of H_th increases with a decrease in cooling time owing to the dynamic aspects of the magnetic ordering process. Dependence of H_th on material parameters and dot sizes has been systematically studied.     

Inter-relation between reversible and irreversible magnetization components in nanocrystalline SmCo films

A study of the experimental behavior of the reversible (M_rev) and the irreversible (M_irr) DCD magnetization components in enhanced-remanence SmCo films was carried out. The evolution of the DCD M_rev and M_irr components were determined at room temperature by measuring sets of first-order reversal curves from different points on the initial magnetization curve and the demagnetization curve. From these data, M_rev(M_irr)_Hi curves were built, H_i being the internal field of the sample. Recent studies show that the behavior of the M_rev(M_irr) curves at a constant internal field can be used as an indicator of the mechanism of reversal magnetization. The non-monotonic behavior showed by these curves at low fields in our material, seems to be associated with an incoherent mechanism of magnetization reversal in the nanograins of SmCo.     

Magnetoresistance in the magnetization reversal process of micropatterned Co wires

We measured the magnetoresistance (MR) and magnetization of Co wires of various widths in the range from 0.3 to 200 μm. The observed width dependence of some characteristics of MR is attributed to the change of the domain structure. As the width decreased below 1 μm, an abrupt jump appeared in the longitudinal MR. This can be interpreted as due to an abrupt reversal of the overall magnetization. The measured longitudinal MR was compared with the calculation in the Stoner–Wohlfarth model.     

High-temperature hysteresis and magnetization reversal in nanocomposite FeCo+MnO

The hysteretic behavior of mechanically alloyed nanocomposites FeCo+MnO was studied at high temperatures. These composites present an unusual high and thermally stable coercivity, compared to FeCo milled at equal conditions. Coercivity enhancement was observed in hysteresis loops obtained between room temperature and 750 K. It is attributed to the isolation of the FeCo ferromagnetic particles by the paramagnetic MnO (T_N=120 K). The M_rev(M_irr)_H curves are clearly linear for the composite, indicating that coherent rotation is the reversal mechanism in these materials.     

Shape and thickness effects on the magnetization reversal of Py/Cu/Co nanostructures

We present an experimental investigation of the magnetization reversal process in NiFe/Cu(10 nm)/Co circular and elliptical nano-elements with different thickness of the magnetic layers. The results obtained using element sensitive X-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS) were compared with the previous measurements showing that the dipolar interlayer coupling favours the antiparallel alignment of the two magnetization layers at remanance. In the case of circular shape, the increased thickness of the ferromagnetic layers stabilizes the antiparallel alignment of the layers over a wider field range. A similar effect, accompanied by a delay in the onset of the antiparallel alignment, is observed in the case of elliptical nano-elements and applying the external field along the longer axis of the elements, due to the additional shape anisotropy.     

Uncompensated magnetization and exchange-bias field in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/YMnO3 bilayers: The influence of the ferromagnetic layer

We studied the magnetic behavior of bilayers of multiferroic and nominally antiferromagnetic o-YMnO₃ (375 nm thick) and ferromagnetic La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ and La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (8…225 nm), in particular the vertical magnetization shift M_E and exchange-bias field H_E for different thickness and magnetic dilutions of the ferromagnetic layer at different temperatures and cooling fields. We have found very large M_E shifts equivalent to up to 100% of the saturation value of the o-YMO layer alone. The overall behavior, including XMCD magnetization shift measured at the Mn-L edge of the LSMO layer only, indicates that the properties of the ferromagnetic layer contribute substantially to the M_E shift and that this does not correlate straightforwardly with the measured exchange-bias field H_E.     

Micromagnetic study of magnetic domain structure and magnetization reversal in amorphous wires with circular anisotropy

In this work we present a detailed numerical investigation on the magnetic domain formation and magnetization reversal mechanism in sub-millimeter amorphous wires with negative magnetostriction by means of micromagnetic calculations. The formation of circular magnetic domains surrounding a multidomain axially oriented central nucleus was observed for the micromagnetic model representing the amorphous wire. The magnetization reversal explained by micromagnetic computations for the M-H curve is described in terms of a combined nucleation-propagation−rotational mechanism after the saturated state. Results are interpreted in terms of the effective magnetic anisotropy.     

Exchange bias and magnetothermal properties in Fe@Mn nanocomposites

We have studied the Exchange Bias (EB) effect in nanocomposite films consisting of Fe nanoparticles (mean size ∼1.9 nm) embedded in an antiferromagnetic Mn matrix. They were produced by co-deposition through a gas aggregation cluster source and molecular beam epitaxy and have different Fe volume filling fractions (2.2% and 24.8%). The exchange field, higher in the sample with higher Fe concentration (at T=5 K, H_ex∼460 Oe for 24.8% and ∼310 Oe for 2.2% ), in both the samples decreases with increasing T, finally disappearing at T∼40 K. The EB properties have been studied in conjunction with results on the thermal dependence of the magnetic coercivity, zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization and thermoremanence. The different Fe content strongly affects the magnetothermal properties, featuring superparamagnetic relaxation in the diluted sample and a reentrant ferromagnet-type transition in the concentrated one. Hence, the EB properties of the two samples have been discussed in consideration of such peculiarities of the magnetic behavior and highlighting the role of the Mn matrix.     

Structure and magnetic properties of Fe1.14Cr1.86Se4 ferrimagnet: Negative magnetization and its dependence on magnetic field

Small single crystals of the Fe_1.14(7)Cr_1.86(8)Se_4.0(2) ferrimagnet were grown using chemical vapor transport. Fe_1.14Cr_1.86Se₄ adopts the Cr₃S₄ structure with two metal sites. The magnetic behavior of Fe_1.14Cr_1.86Se₄ can be described by two magnetic sublattices with different magnetization values and different temperature dependencies. Depending on the experimental conditions, such as the strength and direction of the cooling field, magnetization reversal, large negative magnetization and high-temperature compensation point may result. If the cooling field exceeds 1.5 Oe, magnetization reversal occurs at low temperatures. If the cooling and applied fields are opposite, a large negative magnetization and high-temperature compensation point are observed.     

非磁性掺杂下的铁磁/反铁磁系统中的交换偏置和矫顽场

采用Monte Carlo方法,分别讨论了在铁磁/反铁磁双层膜和铁磁/反铁磁单层混合膜中,掺入非磁性物质后,掺杂浓度对交换偏置以及矫顽场的影响.计算结果表明:随着掺杂浓度的增大,双层膜和单层膜交换偏置都有先增大后减小的现象,而其矫顽场则先减小后增大.在相同掺杂浓度下,对随机掺杂和规则掺杂两种不同掺杂方式的结果比较发现:铁磁/反铁磁双层膜中,规则掺杂下产生的交换偏置和矫顽场都得到了增强;对于单层混合膜,随机掺杂下的交换偏置更强,规则掺杂下的矫顽场更大.研究发现对于双层膜规则掺杂可明显地导致其磁滞回线的不对称性,说明铁磁/反铁磁系统中磁滞回线的不对称性与界面自旋微结构密切相关.     

Spin reversal and magnetization jumps in ErMexMn1−xO3 perovskites (Me=Ni,Co)

The erbium-based manganite ErMnO₃ has been partially substituted at the manganese site by the transition-metal elements Ni and Co. The perovskite orthorhombic structure is found from x(Ni)=0.2–0.5 in the nickel-based solid solution ErNi_xMn_1−xO₃, while it can be extended up to x(Co)=0.7 in the case of cobalt, provided that the synthesis is performed under oxygenation conditions to favor the presence of Co³⁺. Presence of different magnetic entities (i.e., Er³⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Co³⁺, Mn³⁺, and Mn⁴⁺) leads to quite unusual magnetic properties, characterized by the coexistence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions. In ErNi_xMn_1−xO₃, a critical concentration x_crit(Ni)=1/3 separates two regimes: spin-canted AF interactions predominate at x<x_crit, while the ferromagnetic behavior is enhanced for x>x_crit. Spin reversal phenomena are present both in the nickel- and cobalt-based compounds. A phenomenological model based on two interacting sublattices, coupled by an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction, explains the inversion of the overall magnetic moment at low temperatures. In this model, the ferromagnetic transition-metal lattice, which orders at T_c, creates a strong local field at the erbium site, polarizing the Er moments in a direction opposite to the applied field. At low temperatures, when the contribution of the paramagnetic erbium sublattice, which varies as T⁻¹, gets larger than the ferromagnetic contribution, the total magnetic moment changes its sign, leading to an overall ferrimagnetic state. The half-substituted compound ErCo_0.50Mn_0.50O₃ was studied in detail, since the magnetization loops present two well-identified anomalies: an intersection of the magnetization branches at low fields, and magnetization jumps at high fields. The influence of the oxidizing conditions was studied in other compositions close to the 50/50=Mn/Co substitution rate. These anomalies are clearly connected to the spin inversion phenomena and to the simultaneous presence of Co²⁺ and Co³⁺ magnetic moments. Dynamical aspects should be considered to well identify the high-field anomaly, since it depends on the magnetic field sweep rate.     

On the continuity of the magnetization and energy in Ising ferromagnets

We investigate the phase diagram of ferromagnetic Ising spin systems satisfying the G.H.S. inequality. We show that they cannot have a normal first-order phase transition as the temperatureT is varied, i.e., one where the magnetization is discontinuous and there are three coexisting phases. Furthermore, for n.n. interactions, discontinuity in the magnetization at 0 <T ₀ T _c implies an uncountable infinity of pure phases atT ₀.     

Numerical analysis of high Mach flow and flow reversal in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak divertor

The B2-Eirene (SOLPS 4.0) code package is used to investigate the plasma parallel flow, i.e., the scrape-off layer (SOL) flow, in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) divertor. Simulation results show that the SOL flow in the divertor region can exhibit complex behaviour, such as a high Mach flow and flow reversal in different plasma regimes. When the divertor plasma is in the detachment state, the high Mach flow with approaching or exceeding sonic speed is observed away from the target plate in our simulation. When the divertor plasma is in the high recycling state, the flow reversal with a small Mach number (|M|< 0.2) is observed near the X-point along the separatrix region. The driving mechanisms for the high Mach flow and the reversed flow are analysed theoretically through momentum and continuity equations, respectively. The profile of the ionization sources is shown to be a possible formation condition causing the complex behaviour of the SOL flow. In addition, the effects of the high Mach flow and the flow reversal on the impurity transport are also discussed in this paper.     

Influence of Ga+ ion irradiation on the magnetisation reversal process and magnetoresistance in CoFe/Cu/CoFe/IrMn spin valves

Ga+ion irradiation is performed on the surfaces of IrMn-based spin valves and the effects of ion irradiation on the magnetisation reversal process and magnetoresistance(MR) are investigated.The results show that the exchange bias field and magnetoresistance ratio of the spin valve decrease with the increase of ion dose.The width of the forward step between the free layer and the pinned layer becomes gradually smaller with the increase of ion dose whilst the recoil step tends to be narrower with ion dose increasing up to 6×10 13 ions/cm 2 and the step disappears afterwards.Two peaks in the R-H curve are found to be asymmetric.