Magnetic properties of FeSiB thin films displaying stripe domains

FeSiB amorphous thin films with thicknesses from 25 to 600 nm have been produced by rf sputtering on Si₃N₄ substrates. A spin reorientation transition has been observed on the as-prepared samples, as a function of thickness and temperature. Spin reorientation transition is shown to depend on the thermal treatments to which the as-prepared samples have been submitted. Static hysteresis loops obtained as a function of temperature, and magnetic force microscopy images taken at room temperature at the remanence and as a function of an applied magnetic field, have been employed to study the magnetic domain configuration of all the samples, and to see how it is affected by sample thickness, measurement temperature and annealing conditions.     

Magnetic properties of 3d transition metal monolayers on metal substrates

We report results of systematic calculations for magnetic properties of 3d transition metal monolayers on Pd(001) and Ag(001). We find large similarities to interactions of magnetic 3d impurities in the bulk. Therefore the overlayer results are supplemented with results for 3d dimers in Cu, Ag, and Pd. Differences between the two classes of systems are utilized to reveal the interaction within the overlayers and between overlayers and substrates. In virtually all cases we find both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic solutions, showing large magnetic moments and similar densities of states. From the trend of the calculations we conclude that V, Cr, and Mn overlayers favor the antiferromagnetic c(2×2) structure, while Ti, Fe, Co, and Ni prefer the ferromagnetic one.     

Effects of high-temperature annealing on magnetic ordering in thin films of Bi2O3-CaO-Fe2O3

Magnetic properties of rf sputtered (0.5–x) Bi₂O₃-x CaO-0.5 Fe₂O₃ (x=0–0.5) have been studied through magnetization and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements. Films prepared in a mixed oxygen-argon atmosphere are amorphous and paramagnetic. Samples annealed in air at temperatures of 700–1000 K show a ferrimagnetic behavior even though X-ray diffraction data for the films do not indicate the precipitation of any crystalline ferrimagnetic compounds. The room-temperature saturation magnetization 4M and the uniaxial anisotropy field H _u , decrease with increasing x. The Curie temperature and the gyromagnetic ratio increase with increase in the concentration of CaO. Studies on the effects of sputtering atmospheres on magnetic parameters show that films sputtered in oxygen-rich atmospheres have a large 4M and H _u , and a relatively small and FMR line-width. Ordered amorphous clusters are suggested to give rise to the observed ferrimagnetic character in the annealed films.     

Magnetic properties of amorphous Ge–Fe thin films

Thin films of Ge_100−xFe_x (x in at%) alloys, fabricated by thermal co-evaporation, have an amorphous structure at compositions x<∼40, although an unidentified crystalline phase with an FCC symmetry also exists at low Fe content. Magnetization versus temperature curves show that saturation magnetization is non-zero (1 to 2.5 emu/cm³) and remains nearly unchanged up to the highest measured temperature of 350 K. Magnetic hysteresis loops at room temperature show a typical ferromagnetic shape, complete saturation occurring by 1–2 kOe. These results may indicate ferromagnetic ordering at room temperature. No definite tendency is observed in the compositional dependence of saturation magnetization.     

Magnetic and structural properties of Fe ion-implanted GaN

The magnetic and structural properties of Fe ion-implanted GaN was investigated by various measurements. XRD results did not show any peaks associated with second phase formation. The magnetization curve at 5 K showed ferromagnetic behavior for 900 °C-annealed sample. In zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) magnetization measurements, the irreversibility and a cusp-like behavior of the ZFC curve were observed for 900 °C-annealed sample. These behaviors are typically observed in superparamagnetic or spin glass phase. While the temperature dependence magnetization of 800 °C-annealed sample showed non-Brillouin-like curve and it is not exhibited ferromagnetic hysteresis at 5 K. In XPS measurement, the coexistence of metallic Fe (Fe⁰) and Fe–N bond (Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺) for Fe 2p core level spectra is observed in as-implanted sample. But 700–900 °C-annealed samples showed only Fe–N bond (Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺) spectra. For Ga 3d core level spectra only Ga–N bonds showed for as implanted with 700–900 °C-annealed samples. From XPS results, it could be explained that magnetic property of our films originated from FeN structures.     

Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of FeRh thin films

The magnetic and magneto-optical properties of FeRh thin films epitaxially deposited onto MgO(1 0 0) substrates by RF sputter-deposition system have been investigated in conjunction with the structure. An intriguing virgin effect has been found in the M–T curves of the as-deposited FeRh thin films, which is presumably interpreted in term of a change in structural phase when heating. Also, a (negative) maximum peak of Kerr rotation at around 3.8 eV has been observed when FeRh thin films are in ferromagnetic state. The polar Kerr rotation angle is found to increase at temperatures above 100 °C, which corresponds to the antiferromagnet (AF)–ferromagnet (FM) transition of FeRh thin films.     

Magnetic properties of disordered structures deposited on reconstructed substrates

The magnetic properties of disordered layered structures grown on surface-reconstructed substrates are studied with respect to percolation and random fields phenomena. Both the layered site-dilution and fluctuating magnetic field are considered in the frame of the Ising model to describe the structural disorder in a deposited layer. The results of effective field calculations superior to the standard molecular field approximation are qualitatively comparable with the experimental data previously obtained for Fe films deposited on GaAs(001) (4×2)-reconstructed surface.     

Magnetic and structural features of amorphous FeMo-based alloys

NANOPERM-type FeMoCuB alloys are studied using magnetic and Mössbauer measurements in the as-prepared amorphous state. It is shown that the Fe₇₆Mo₈Cu₁B₁₅ (A) and Fe₇₄Mo₈Cu₁B₁₇ (B) alloys exhibit the magnetic dipole and electrical quadrupole interactions well detected in the room-temperature Mössbauer spectra. The thermomagnetic measurements above the room temperature indicate a vanishing of the magnetic interactions at approximately 310 K (A) and at 340 K (B), respectively. The low-temperature DC magnetic measurements show an anomaly around 200 K which is also a boundary at which zero-field Mössbauer measurements of both samples reflect the gradual “vanishing” of the electrical quadrupole interactions and appearance of another magnetically ordered component. The Mössbauer measurements in the field of 4 MA/m yield a survival of quadrupole and an enhancement of magnetic dipole interactions.     

Magnetic dipolar interaction in ultrathin films: Structural and size effects

A previously introduced formalism for calculating magnetic dipolar anisotropy energy ΔU in atomic layered structures is further developed. Numerical results are presented for ultrathin films with different close-packed (face centered cubic (FCC) [1 1 1]) and non-close-packed (FCC [0 0 1] and body centered cubic (BCC) [0 0 1]) structures. Structural effects become apparent in the magnetocrystalline dipolar anisotropy energy ΔU_L when the ratio between the interlayer separation c and the 2D lattice constant a is changed. Despite the long-range character of the dipolar interaction, it is shown that the number of significantly interacting layers, conventially called coupled layers, is limited and depends on the structural aspect ratio c/a. The slope in the observed linear dependence between ΔU_L and the inverse of the film thickness t is explained by the number of the so-called coupled layers, and not by a surface contribution to volume values. Size effects appearing in ΔU are unambiguously distinguished from structural effects. Effective anisotropy energy ΔU_eff and ΔU are presented for Co [0 0 0 1] and Ni [0 0 1] ultrathin films. It is verified that the dipolar interaction makes an important contribution to ΔU_eff, but the spin reorientation transition is determined by non-dipolar interactions. The former favors the magnetization switching only when the size aspect ratio d/t, with d the characteristic lateral dimension of the film, is sufficiently small. Applications to other layered arrays of magnetic dipoles are straightforward.     

Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of CoFeCrSiB amorphous ribbons

In this paper we investigate the surface magnetic properties of as-quenched (AQ) CoFeCrBSi ribbons prepared by planar flow casting method with using magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE). Measured hysteresis loops in longitudinal and transversal configurations enable us to obtain the information of ribbons surface magnetic properties. Moreover, we suggest new magneto-optic method, which is based on measurements of magneto-optical effects depending on DC current flowing through the ribbon. Experimental data of AQ ribbons are then compared with the model, which describes the influence of incidence angle on magneto-optical angles.     

Preparation and magnetoresistance of thin CrO2 films

Highly textured chromium dioxide (CrO₂) films have been deposited on Al₂O₃ single-crystal substrates by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition method (CVD). X-ray diffraction patterns show that the CrO₂ films are (1 0 0)-oriented on Al₂O₃ (0 0 1) substrates, and are (1 0 1)-oriented on Al₂O₃ (0 1 2) substrates. Scanning electron microscopy images indicate that the (1 0 0)-oriented CrO₂ films grown on Al₂O₃ (0 0 1) substrates have smoother surface and better qualities than that grown on Al₂O₃ (0 1 2) substrate. At room temperature, the magnetoresistance of the (1 0 0)- and (1 0 1)-oriented CrO₂ films are nearly same, and both show a linear dependence on applied magnetic field. While at 80 K, the (1 0 1)-oriented CrO₂ films show a much larger magnetoresistance compared with the (1 0 0)-oriented CrO₂ films. The reasons are briefly discussed.     

Magnetic properties of field-annealed FeCo thin films

Fe₅₀Co₅₀ thin films with thickness of 30 and 4 nm have been produced by rf sputtering on glass substrates, and their surface has been observed with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and magnetic force microscopy (MFM); MFM images reveal a non-null component of the magnetization perpendicular to the film plane. Selected samples have been annealed in vacuum at temperatures of 300 and 350 °C for times between 20 and 120 min, under a static magnetic field of 100 Oe. DC hysteresis loops have been measured with an alternating gradient force magnetometer (AGFM) along the direction of the field applied during annealing and orthogonally to it. Samples with a thickness of 4 nm display lower coercive fields with respect to the 30 nm thick ones. Longer annealing times affect the development of a harder magnetic phase more oriented off the film plane. The field applied during annealing induces a moderate magnetic anisotropy only on 30 nm thick films.     

Magnetic properties and stress distribution in hydrogenated FeCrB amorphous ribbons

Amorphous Fe₈₅${}_{85}$B₁₅${}_{15}$ and Fe₈₀${}_{80}$Cr_4.3${}_{4.3}$B_15.7${}_{15.7}$ ribbons were hydrogenated from air side. During spontaneous ribbon dehydrogenation, the hydrogen concentration and the constant of anisotropy induced by internal stress were measured and the ribbon bending, characterized by curvature, was recorded. The results obtained indicate that internal stresses in samples under study are proportional to the hydrogen concentration, and hydrogen distribution is not homogeneous in the cross-section of sample. The hydrogen concentration is the largest in the region close to hydrogenated surface. The hydrogen release from this region is very fast and corresponds to the curvature decrease, and it can be, similar to the decrease of total hydrogen concentration, fitted by exponential function.     

Magnetic properties of some rare earth tellurate garnets

The magnetic properties of the lanthanide tellurate garnets Ln₃Te₂Li₃O₁₂ for Ln=Pr, Nd, Gd-Er, and Yb are found to exhibit similarities in many cases to the related aluminum or gallium garnet compounds. Magnetic exchange is also roughly comparable in magnitude, despite the systematic difference in exchange pathways.     

Magnetic behavior of MnAs precipitates in Ga1−xMnxAs diluted magnetic semiconductor

Ferromagnetic Ga_1−xMn_xAs layers (where x≈4.7–5.5%) were grown on (1 0 0) GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. These p-type (Ga,Mn)As films were revealed to have a ferromagnetic structure and ferromagnetism is observed up to a Curie temperature of 318 K, which is ascribed to the presence of MnAs secondary magnetic phases within the film. It is highly likely that the phase segregation occurs due to the high Mn cell temperature around 890–920 °C, as it is well established that GaMnAs is unstable at such a high temperature. The MnAs precipitate in the samples with x≈4.7–5.5% has a Curie temperature T_c≈318 K, which was characterized from field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetization curves.     

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Sm Implanted GaN

The structural and magnetic properties of Sm ion-implanted GaN with different Sm concentrations are investigated. XRD results do not show any peaks associated with second phase formation. Magnetic investigations performed by superconducting quantum interference device reveal ferromagnetic behavior with an ordering tem- perature above room temperature in all the implanted samples, while the effective magnetic moment per Sin obtained from saturation magnetization gives a much higher value than the atomic moment of Sm. These results could be explained by the phenomenological model proposed by Dhar et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94（2005）037205, Phys. Rev. B 72（2005）245203] in terms of a long-range spin polarization of the GaN matrix by the Sm atoms.     

Magnetic interactions in Co-based alloy thin films

The interactions in ternary and quaternary Co-based alloy thin films for longitudinal recording media, with different thickness, are studied. The analysis is performed through the measurement of the initial magnetization and ordinary hysteresis curves. The interactions result stronger in quaternary than in ternary alloy films and when the film thickness is smaller. These findings are discussed in relationship with the evolution of the magnetization switching, characterized by a tendency towards a more coherent rotation of the magnetization in single-domain grains of thinnest and quaternary films, owing to the complex structure of these films. The impact of this evolution on the thermal stability of the magnetic properties is also discussed.     

Magnetic properties and magnetic entropy change of amorphous and crystalline GdNiAl ribbons

The structure and magnetic properties of amorphous melt-spun and subsequently crystallized GdNiAl ribbons were investigated. An amorphous phase was formed after the quenching process by melt spinning with a copper wheel having a surface speed of 30 m/s. A hexagonal phase with lattice parameters a=7.023 ? and c=3.916 ? was formed in the GdNiAl ribbon after annealing above its crystallization temperature. Magnetic entropy change was calculated directly from isothermal magnetic measurements. The results show that both the amorphous and annealed samples have a high magnetocaloric effect, indicating that these alloys can be considered as candidates for magnetic refrigeration applications. Received: 14 August 2001 / Accepted: 18 September 2001 / Published online: 23 January 2002     

Magnetic properties of a random diluted spin-1/2, 1, 3/2 superlattice

Using the effective-field theory we studied the magnetic properties of a random diluted spin-1/2, 1, 3/2 superlattice which consists of three different ferromagnetic materials. The critical temperature of the system is studied as a function of the concentration of magnetic atoms and exchange interactions in each layer. The temperature dependence of magnetization shows that the properties of the diluted system are different from those of the corresponding pure system.