Film thickness dependence of the magnetic resonance in Fe–SiO2 nanocomposites

The magnetic properties of Fe–SiO₂ nanogranular composite thin films were studied as a function of film thickness and Fe concentration, f, using ferromagnetic resonance at X-band (9.4 GHz) and Q-band (35 GHz). Films with an Fe volume percent ranging from 17% to 70% were fabricated from a mosaic target using RF sputtering techniques. Film thickness was varied between 10 and 200 nm. From measurements made at room temperature with the external field applied parallel and perpendicular to the film plane, it was possible to determine an almost linear dependence of the effective anisotropy field with Fe concentration. Small differences observed between X- and Q-band, specially at low f, were attributed to the effects that the different fields applied during the experiment cause on the magnetic state of the sample. No systematic change of the effective field or the g value was observed in films of different thickness. The absorption line width, on the other hand, was found to depend on film thickness indicating a larger distribution of particle shape and size with increasing film thickness. A maximum in the line width was observed around f30–35% and is probably caused by the transition from single domain ferromagnetic clusters to superparamagnetic particles.     

Ferromagnetic resonance studies in granular CoCu codeposited films

Experimental ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) data are presented for CoCu granular films obtained by electron beam codeposition. Co_xCu_100−x films were prepared for x=10 and 30 and were subsequently submitted to a thermal treatment. For the 10% Co samples one found three main resonance modes, one of them constituting of non-interacting Co particles. External field angular variation and temperature-dependent FMR experiments were proceeded and straight calculations of the involved resonance intensities as well. A strict correlation of the presented FMR data with the previous X-Ray diffraction, magnetization, and particle size investigations was possible. The link between structural changes and magnetic properties of the samples could be verified. For the 30% Co samples a broad resonance line for the in-plane configuration was found, which is characteristic for polycrystalline systems. In the perpendicular configuration a spin wave spectra were present on all samples and one could identify some of the modes as surface modes. These samples with 30% Co become more heterogeneous with increasing thermal treatment.     

Stripe domains in Permalloy films as observed by ferromagnetic resonance and magnetic force microscopy

We have studied the static and dynamic responses of three (62, 115 and 308 nm thick) Permalloy (Ni_0.81Fe_0.19) films by DC magnetization, ferromagnetic resonance and magnetic force microscopy. The thickest film presents very regular stripe domains with widths slightly smaller than the film thickness. Ferromagnetic resonance performed on the thinnest film shows one absorption peak when the field is applied along the film plane, and more than one in the other samples. These multiple absorptions are analogous to the high frequency susceptibility peaks observed at zero field in Permalloy films above the critical thickness reported previously by other authors.     

Comparison of frequency,field, and time domain ferromagnetic resonance methods

We present vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance measurements of epitaxial Fe films having a thickness of 16 monolayers. Our objective is to test the reliability of this novel frequency domain technique with respect to frequency and damping. For this purpose we compare vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance to pulsed inductive microwave magnetometry, time resolved magneto-optic Kerr effect (both methods in the time domain), and conventional ferromagnetic resonance (measured in the field domain) in terms of position and width of the ferromagnetic resonance. In addition, we compare the various techniques with respect to the signal to noise ratio of the raw data. All data is obtained using the same well characterized ultrathin magnetic Fe/GaAs (0 0 1) film. Finally, we demonstrate the potential of the vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance technique for the investigation of nano-structured magnetic elements having nonuniform magnetization configuration. The absorption spectrum of Permalloy disks with a diameter of 200 nm and a thickness of 15 nm shows up to eight distinct resonance peaks. The spatial structure of the corresponding modes was derived from numerical calculations and reveals that azimuthal modes up to the fifth order have been observed inductively.     

Interlayer exchange coupling: an in situ investigation via ferromagnetic resonance

A new absolute way to deduce the interlayer exchange coupling via in situ ferromagnetic resonance measurements in Cu/Ni/Cu/Ni/Cu(0 0 1) films is presented. The signal of the first magnetic layer before and after the deposition of the second one is compared and the exchange coupling is extracted from the shift of the resonance position in the coupled system with respect to the Cu/Ni bilayer.     

Spatial confinement of ferromagnetic resonances in honeycomb antidot lattices

We report on a theoretical investigation of the magnetic static and dynamic properties of a thin ferromagnetic film with honeycomb lattice of circular antidots using micromagnetic simulations and analytical calculations. The theoretical model is based on the Landau–Lifshitz equations and directly accounts for the effects of the magnetic state nonuniformity. A direct calculation of local dynamic susceptibility tensor yields that the resonance spectra consist of four different quasi-uniform modes of the magnetization precession related to the confinement of magnetic domains by the hole mesh. Three of four resonant modes follow a two-fold variation with respect to the in-plane orientation of the applied magnetic field. The easy axes of these modes are mutually rotated by 60° and combine to yield the apparent six-fold configurational anisotropy. Additionally, a mode with intrinsic six-fold symmetry behavior exists, as well. Micromagnetic calculations of the local dynamic susceptibility tensor allow identifying the magnetic unit cell areas/domains responsible for each resonance mode.     

Surface characteristics and nanoindentation study of Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory sputtered thin films

In present paper, the off-stoichiometric Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloy thin films are fabricated using radio frequency magnetron sputtering method. The compositions, microstructures and mechanical properties of the thin films are characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDAX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and nanoindentation test, respectively. The results show that there is a thinner layer of oxides consisting of NiO, Ga₂O₃ and an unspecified manganese oxidation (Mn_xO_y) at the surface, whereas a small amount of MnO precipitates exist in internal layers of post-annealed Ni-Mn-Ga thin films. The hardness and elastic modulus decrease with increasing film thickness. Nanoindentation tests reveal that the hardness and elastic modulus of the films can be up to 5.5 and 155 GPa, respectively. The Ni-Mn-Ga thin films have remarkably improved the ductility of Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys bulk materials.     

Voltage control of millimeter-wave ferromagnetic resonance in multiferroic heterostructures thin films

Multiferroic heterostructures thin films, SrBi₂Ta₂O₉/BaFe₁₂O₁₉ (SBT/BaM), were grown on Pt/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si substrates by using magnetron sputtering and Sol-gel ways. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis showed that only SBT and BaM phases appeared in the multiferroic heterostructures. Magnetic hysteresis loops revealed that the saturated magnetization was 3.7 kG and the M-H characteristics of SBT/BaM were not influenced by the presence of the SBT layer. Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurement showed the lowest FMR linewidth of 205 Oe at 50 GHz. Additionally, when direct-current electric field was applied to SBT layer, as a result of which mechanical deformation of the ferromagnetic layer occurred that leads to a frequency shift in ferromagnetic resonance and the magnetoelectric coupling effect (α) is 1.8 MHz*cm/kV. Our findings indicate that these SBT/BaM thin films have a significant potential for the usage in millimeter wave tunable devices.     

Aspects of “low field” magnetotransport in epitaxial thin films of the ferromagnetic metallic oxide SrRuO3

Epitaxial thin films of the conductive ferromagnetic oxide SrRuO₃ were grown on an (0 0 1) SrTiO₃ (STO) substrate by using DC sputtering technique. The magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of the films were measured by applying the magnetic field both perpendicular (out-of-plane) and parallel (in-plane) to the film plane and ever maintaining the direction of the applied field perpendicular to that of the transport current. The films grown on an (0 0 1) STO substrate showed identical magnetization properties in two orthogonal crystallographic directions of the substrate, [1 0 0]_S and [0 0 1]_S (in-plane and out-of-plane geometry), which suggests the presence of a multi domain structure within the plane of the film. For such samples, no anisotropic field (hard axis) along de [0 0 1]s direction, i.e., perpendicular to the film-plane could be detected. Nevertheless, a distinguishable temperature dependent out-of-plane anisotropic magnetoresistance (MR) along with strong temperature dependent low field hysteretic MR(H) behavior was detected for the studied films. A negative MR ratio MR(T)=[ρ(μ₀H=9 T; T)−ρ( μ₀H=0 T; T)]/ρ( μ₀H=0 T; T) on the order of a few percent, with maximums of 6% and 4% (right at the Curie temperature, T_C 160 K) was calculated for an in-plane and out-of plane measuring geometry, respectively. In addition there is an equally strong MR effect at low temperatures, which might be related to the temperature dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy together with a magnetization rotation. Both the MR(T) behavior and the achieved values (except for T<30 K) are similar to those obtained on SrRuO₃ films grown on 2° miscut (0 0 1) STO substrates with the current parallel to the field and parallel to the direction, which was identified as the easier axis for magnetization.     

Study on the Gilbert damping of polycrystalline YIG films with different capping layers

This paper describes the effect of 5-nm thick platinum (Pt), aluminum (Al) and silicon oxide (SiO_x) capping layers on the static and dynamic magnetic properties of 400-nm thick polycrystalline YIG films deposited on a Pt buffer layer. Both static and dynamic magnetic properties of Pt capped YIG film are totally different among all YIG films. Namely, the squareness of the magnetization curve for Pt capped YIG film increases, indicating that Pt capped YIG film is magnetically softer than other YIG films. Interestingly, the effective Gilbert damping parameter of Pt capped YIG films is about four times as large as those of other YIG films, and its value is approximately 9.52 × 10⁻⁴. However, the value of Gilbert damping is 2.55 × 10⁻⁴, 3.46 × 10⁻⁴ and 3.85 × 10⁻⁴ respectively for no capping, SiOx capping and Al capping samples respectively. This huge change in Gilbert damping parameter is mainly originating from the spin pumping effect, which arises at the interface of a material having strong spin orbit interaction such as Pt. Moreover, the enourmous increase in the value of effective anisotropic field and decrese in effective saturation magnetization indicates interface anisotropy is induced in Pt capped sample. These results suggest that the static and dynamic magnetic properties of YIG film can be controlled by selecting an appropriate capping layer.     

Ferromagnetic resonance and magnetization in permalloy films with nanostructured antidot arrays of variable size

We present the results of structural and magnetic characterization of Permalloy (Fe₂₀Ni₈₀) films deposited by sputtering on self-organized nanoporous alumina previously treated with phosphoric acid to vary the pore diameters. SEM and AFM images of the top film surfaces show a triangular array of pores with diameters similar to the untreated porous alumina. However, the underlying pore enlargement is evidenced by the magnetic study. Indeed magnetization measurements reveal a decrease in the easy-plane anisotropy energy with elapsing time of chemical etching. Consistent with these results, ferromagnetic resonance measurements perpendicular to the film indicate a systematic reduction of the resonance field which can be directly related to an increase in the pore diameter. The effect of lateral confinement (due to the pores) in the spin-wave resonance is evidenced in multiple absorption lines when the applied field is in the film plane and perpendicular to it. This contrasts with the results for the continuous test film.     

Spin-wave dispersion in ferromagnetic semiconductor superlattices and thin films in the narrow-band limit

Bulk and surface magnetic excitations of the semi-infinite ferromagnetic semiconductor (FMS) superlattices and thin films described by Heisenberg and s-d model are analyzed using the transfer matrix method, developed in our previous work. Results are discussed in the narrow-band limit. The spin-wave frequencies for the semi-infinite narrow-band semiconductors are analyzed in both low- and high-frequency regions. Energies of localized excitations are compared to the bulk and the results of Green function formalism. Depending on the parameters of the system, the surface spin waves appear as “acoustical” and “optical”, and there are only some quantitative difference in the high-frequency region, comparing our method and the Green function method. In the framework of the same methodology, bulk and surface magnetic excitations of more complicated superlattices and thin films made of the FMS superlattices are analyzed in terms of dependence of the system parameters. It is shown that the s-d interaction governs the behavior of the systems. Dependence on bulk and surface parameters is discussed.     

A comparison of ferromagnetic resonance and magneto optical Kerr effect on thin Fe films on InAs(001)

A combination of STM, SQUID magnetometry, FMR and MOKE is used to study the structural and magnetic properties of thin iron films grown on InAs(001) (4×2)/c(8×2). The different magnetic characterization methods of this paper allow measurements of the magnetic anisotropies in the saturated and non-saturated state. Here we show results of a SQUID/FMR investigation on a 12 monolayer thick Fe film. As expected, FMR measurements find a four-fold symmetry of the magneto crystalline anisotropy, but with an additional uniaxial contribution. The dependence of the remanence on the magnetization angle computed from the magnetic parameters obtained in the saturated state is compared to experimental remanence data measured using MOKE. Good agreement is found. The InAs-substrate quality prior to growth, the nucleation behavior and the thickness-dependent granular structure of the Fe-layer are studied with STM. The origin of the magnetic anisotropies is discussed in terms of these structural data.     

外应力场下双层铁磁薄膜中的铁磁共振性质

用铁磁共振方法得到了双层铁磁薄膜的色散关系解析表达式.发现共振场依赖于层间耦合强度和应力场.假定层间为反铁磁性耦合，且铁磁层Ａ有较强的平面内各向异性.随着外磁场的增强，铁磁层Ｂ中的磁化强度突然由最初的反平行转为平行，从而导致色散曲线的阶跃，并且发现光学模阶跃幅度比声学模大.随着应力场的增强，Ｂ层中磁化强度反转所需的外磁场减弱.此外，在不同的交换耦合强度和应力场下，光学模共振场对外磁场方向的依赖性较强. 关键词： 双层铁磁薄膜 界面相互作用 应力各向异性场 铁磁共振     

Model of magnetization in thin magnetic films with one domain and two-domain basic structures

The magnetization processes in thin magnetic films are described by a model analysing the behaviour of one domain and two-domain basic structures (BS) in the applied magnetic field. These structures include the film areas with nearly constant crystal and magnetic parameters. The minimum of BS free energy including the energy in the internal magnetic field, the energy of the induced anisotropy and the domain-wall energy are taken into account. The initial and hysteresis curves of the sample depend on the function of distribution for the BSs are calculated. A good qualitative agreement with the results of other authors is observed if the films consists of one-domain or two-domain BS only. Our experimental data give also some support of the model.     

Investigation of ferromagnetic resonance and damping properties of CoFeB

In this study, the influences of thin film thickness and post-annealing process on the magnetic properties of CoFeB thin films were investigated. The angular dependency and linewidth of the ferromagnetic resonance signal were used to explore the magnetic behavior of sputtered single-layer and trilayer thin film stacks of CoFeB. A micromagnetic simulation model was employed based on the metropolis algorithm comprising the demagnetizing field and in-plane induced uniaxial anisotropy terms with all relevant contributions. Our results reveal that the direction of magnetization changes from in-plane to out-of-plane as a result of the annealing process and induces a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the 1-nm thick CoFeB thin film. The ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) linewidth can be defined well by the intrinsic Gilbert damping effect and the magnetic inhomogeneity contribution in both as-grown and annealed samples. The difference between the linewidths of the single and trilayer film is mainly caused by the spin pumping effect on damping which is associated with the interface layers.     

X-ray detected ferromagnetic resonance in thin films

We discuss the physical content of X-ray Detected Magnetic Resonance (XDMR), i.e. a novel spectroscopy which uses XMCD to probe the resonant precession of the local magnetization in a strong microwave pump field. We focus on the simplest case of a steady-state precession of elemental moments in the non-linear regime of angular foldover. Like XMCD, XDMR is element and edge selective and could become a unique tool to investigate how precessional dynamics can locally affect the spin and orbital magnetization of p- or d-projected DOS. This should be possible only in the limit where there is no overdamping due to ultrafast orbit-lattice relaxation.     

Microstructure and microwave permeability of FeCo thin films with Co underlayer

Microstructure, static magnetic properties and microwave permeability of sputtered FeCo films were examined. Fe₆₀Co₄₀ films (100 nm in thickness) deposited on glass substrates exhibited in-plane isotropy and a large coercivity of 161.1 Oe. When same thickness films were deposited on 2.5 nm Co underlayer, well-defined in-plane anisotropy was formed with an anisotropy field of 65 Oe. The sample had a static initial permeability of about 285, maximum imaginary permeability of 1255 and ferromagnetic resonance frequency of 2.71 GHz. Cross-sectional TEM image revealed that the Co underlayer had induced a columnar grain structure with grain diameter of 10 nm in the FeCo films. In comparison, FeCo films without Co underlayer showed larger grains of 70 nm in diameter with fewer distinct vertical grain boundaries. In addition, the Co underlayer changed the preferred orientation of the FeCo from (1 0 0) to (1 1 0). The improvement in soft magnetic properties and microwave behavior originates from the modification of the film microstructure, which can be well understood by the random anisotropy theory.     

Heisenberg-type ferromagnetic films with a sandwich structure

Green’s function theory is applied to an alternating two-element multilayer ferromagnetic film. The Hamiltonian is based on the Heisenberg model with a second-order uniaxial single-ion anisotropy and with the interaction between the layer in the interfaces. Magnetization and the phase transition in such system are derived for several sets of material parameters.