Two-stage magnetization reversal in exchange biased bilayers

MnF(2)/Fe bilayers exhibit asymmetric magnetization reversal that occurs by coherent rotation on one side of the loop and by nucleation and propagation of domain walls on the other side of the loop. Here, we show by polarized neutron reflectometry, magnetization, and magnetotransport measurements that for samples with good crystalline "quality" the rotation is a two-stage process, due to coherent rotation to a stable state perpendicular to the cooling field direction. The result is remarkably asymmetrically shaped hysteresis loops.     

Magnetization reversal in submicron disks: exchange biased vortices

Submicron, circular, ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic dots exhibit different magnetization reversal mechanisms depending on the direction of the magnetic applied field. Shifted, constricted hysteresis loops, typical for vortex formation, are observed for fields along the exchange bias direction. However, for fields applied close to perpendicular to the exchange bias direction, magnetization reversal occurs via coherent rotation. Magnetic force microscopy imaging together with micromagnetic simulations are used to further clarify the different magnetic switching behaviors.     

Magnetization reversal in exchange biased Co/CoO patterns

The influence of patterning on exchange bias has been investigated using arrays of micron-sized Co/CoO dots with different lateral confinement and length-to-width ratio. The patterned samples show higher coercive and exchange bias fields than a continuous Co/CoO bilayer. As in unpatterned film, magnetization reversal mechanisms on opposite sides of the hysteresis loops of the microstructured samples are different. However, with the increase of lateral confinement and shape anisotropy of the dots, the asymmetry in the magnetization reversal starts to differ from that observed in continuous Co/CoO films.     

Thermal effects in exciton harvesting in biased one-dimensional systems

The study of energy harvesting in chain-like structures is important due to its relevance to a variety of interesting physical systems. Harvesting is understood as the combination of exciton transport through intra-band exciton relaxation (via scattering on phonon modes) and subsequent quenching by a trap. Recently, we have shown that in the low temperature limit different harvesting scenarios as a function of the applied bias strength (magnitude of the energy gradient towards the trap) are possible [S.M. Vlaming, V.A. Malyshev, J. Knoester, J. Chem. Phys. 127 (2007) 154719]. This paper generalizes the results for both homogeneous and disordered chains to nonzero temperatures. We show that thermal effects are appreciable only for low bias strengths, particularly so in disordered systems, and lead to faster harvesting.     

Conditions for noncollinear instabilities of ferromagnetic materials

Two criteria have been identified here which determine whether a magnetic metal orders in a collinear (e.g., ferromagnet) or noncollinear (e.g., spin-spiral) arrangement. These criteria involve the ratio between the strength of the exchange interaction and the width of the electron bands, as well as Fermi-surface nesting between spin-up and spin-down sheets of the Fermi surface. Based on our analysis we predict that even typical ferromagnetic materials (e.g., Fe, Co, and Ni) should be possible to stabilize in a noncollinear magnetic order in, e.g., high pressure experiments.     

Coercivity enhancement in exchange biased systems driven by interfacial magnetic frustration

We report the temperature and cooling field dependence of the coercivity of exchange biased MnF(2)/Fe bilayers. When the antiferromagnetic surface is in a state of maximum magnetic frustration and the net exchange bias is zero, we observe a strong enhancement of the coercivity, which is proportional to the exchange coupling between the layers. Hence, the coercivity can be tuned in a reproducible and repeatable fashion in the same sample. We propose that a frustrated interface provides local energy minima which effectively pin the propagating domain walls in the ferromagnet, leading to an enhanced coercivity.     

Reversing the training effect in exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers

We performed a detailed study of the training effect in exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers. High-resolution measurements of the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) display an asymmetry in the first magnetization reversal process and training in the subsequent reversal processes. Surprisingly, the AMR measurements as well as magnetization measurements reveal that it is possible to partially reinduce the untrained state by performing a hysteresis measurement with an in-plane external field perpendicular to the cooling field. Indeed, the next hysteresis loop obtained in a field parallel to the cooling field resembles the initial asymmetric hysteresis loop, but with a reduced amount of spin rotation occurring at the first coercive field. This implies that the antiferromagnetic domains, which are created during the first reversal after cooling, can be partially erased.     

Laser driven acoustic instabilities in materials with strain-dependent dielectric constants

A simple analysis of the laser driven acoustic wave instability in a material with strain-dependent dielectric constants is given. The analysis is based on the hydrodynamic model of a plasma in the collision dominated regime. Using coupled mode theory, the acoustic instability in the medium is investigated and the threshold value of the pump electric field and the conditions for the initial growth rates of unstable acoustic waves are deduced. It is found that large values of growth can be achieved for materials having an anomalously large dielectric constant, which is otherwise not achievable with piezoelectric interaction. Because of the non-availability of the relevant experimental data, we were unable to compare our theoretical case with an experimental one.     

Asymmetric magnetization reversal on exchange biased CoO/Co bilayers

We study magnetic hysteresis loops after field cooling of a CoO/Co bilayer by MOKE and polarized neutron reflectivity. The neutron scattering reveals that the first magnetization reversal after field cooling is dominated by domain wall movement, whereas all subsequent reversals proceed essentially by rotation of the magnetization. In addition, off-specular diffuse scattering indicates that the first magnetization reversal induces an irreversible change of the domain state in the antiferromagnet.     

Parallel versus antiparallel interfacial coupling in exchange biased Co/FeF2

By using the surface and element specificity of soft x-ray magnetic dichroism we provide direct experimental evidence for two different types of interfacial uncompensated Fe moments in exchange biased Co/FeF2 bilayers. Some moments are pinned and coupled antiparallel to the ferromagnet (FM). They give rise to a positive exchange bias and vanish above T(N) = 78 together with the antiferromagnet (AF) order. Other interfacial Fe moments are unpinned and coupled parallel to the FM. They persist up to 300 K and give rise to magnetic order at the AF surface even above T(N) .     

On the use of exchange biased top electrodes in magnetic tunnel junctions

We have investigated the magnetic behavior and the structural properties of ferromagnetic–antiferromagnetic systems (NiFe–IrMn and Co–IrMn) deposited directly on a thin tantalum buffer layer (bottom configuration) or above a thin Al₂O₃ tunnel barrier layer (top configuration). In the bottom configuration, the bilayer system exhibits higher magnetic performances than in the top configuration in terms of thermal stability. We have performed a detailed structural study by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy which allow us to establish a clear correlation between the situation of the bilayer with respect to the tunnel barrier, its texture and its magnetic properties.     

All-optical probe of magnetization dynamics in exchange biased bilayers on the picosecond timescale

All-optical control of the magnetization of polycrystalline exchange bias bilayer systems is achieved using short picosecond laser pulses. Due to the photoexcitation, the spin temperature across the interface between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layer is elevated, resulting in a collapse of the interfacial exchange coupling. Thus, within the first 10 ps, a fast reduction of both the exchange bias field and the coercive field is observed for three different exchange bias systems comprising both different ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. The fast thermal unpinning is followed by a slower heat diffusion dominated relaxation process, which strongly depends on the thermal conductivity of the used buffer layers and substrates. The fast optical unpinning can be understood in terms of an internal anisotropy pulse field capable of triggering ultrafast precessional magnetization dynamics of the ferromagnetic layer, which makes heat-assisted coherent magnetization rotation feasible.     

Thermal and thermomagnetic instabilities of nonelectrostatic plasma in weakly inhomogeneous electric field

A nonelectrostatic approach to the problem of the nonuniform structure of the atmospheric F-layer allows mechanisms of low-frequency thermomagnetic instability to be proposed. The following regimes are possible for various ranges of ionospheric-plasma parameter values: the excitation of small-scale density inhomogeneities at the plasma-drift frequency by either incoming or outgoing currents, depending on the sign of the drift-velocity gradient; the formation of weakly anisotropic plasma-pressure nonuniformities; and the simultaneous generation of small-scale Alfvén waves and strongly anisotropic pressure fluctuations.Scientific-Research Radio-Physics Institute. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 34, No. 9, pp. 982–989, September, 1991.     

Field cooling-induced magnetic anisotropy in exchange biased CoO/Fe bilayer studied by ferromagneticresonance

Exchange-biased CoO/Fe bilayer grown on MgO (0 0 1) substrate by sputtering, studied by variable angle and temperature ferromagnetic resonance. Room temperature in-plane measurements reveal that the Fe layer was epitaxially grown on MgO substrate with a fourfold cubic symmetry. The data also show that the easy axis of magnetization is in the film plane and makes an angle of 45° with the [1 0 0] crystallographic direction of MgO substrate. The low temperature data exhibit a sudden onset of a field cooling-induced and shifted cubic anisotropy below the Néel temperature of CoO. This results in a twofold uniaxial or fourfold cubic symmetry for in-plane magnetic anisotropy depending on a field cooling direction. Low temperature measurements also present a reduction in the resonance fields due to the antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic coupling. The developed theoretical model perfectly simulates the experimental data of coupled CoO/Fe bilayer.     

Thermal properties of two-dimensional materials

Two-dimensional(2D) materials, such as graphene, phosphorene, and transition metal dichalcogenides(e.g., Mo S2 and WS2), have attracted a great deal of attention recently due to their extraordinary structural, mechanical, and physical properties. In particular, 2D materials have shown great potential for thermal management and thermoelectric energy generation. In this article, we review the recent advances in the study of thermal properties of 2D materials. We first review some important aspects in thermal conductivity of graphene and discuss the possibility to enhance the ultra-high thermal conductivity of graphene. Next, we discuss thermal conductivity of Mo S2 and the new strategy for thermal management of Mo S2 device. Subsequently, we discuss the anisotropic thermal properties of phosphorene. Finally, we review the application of 2D materials in thermal devices, including thermal rectifier and thermal modulator.     

Thermal expansion of SOFC materials

A short overview is given for the thermal expansion of solid oxide fuel cell materials. The thermomechanical compatibility of state-of-the-art materials is compared with alternative, new materials. With these alternatives a better adjustment of the thermal expansion coefficients of the various fuel cell components is possible and fuel cells based on the newly developed materials are proposed.     

Thermal transport in chemically doped polyaniline materials

Simultaneous measurements of effective thermal conductivity (λ_e) and effective thermal diffusivity (χ_e) of four samples S1 (polyaniline mixed with 100% Ni), S2 (polyaniline mixed with 90% Ni and 10% Al), S3 (polyaniline mixed with 80% Ni and 20% Al) and S4 (polyaniline mixed with 70% Ni and 30% Al) of polyaniline mix with metal Ni and Al in different percentage have been made using transient plane source technique. In the temperature range from room temperature to 170 °C. Both λ_e and χ_e increase with increase in temperature. Addition of aluminium concentration at the cost of nickel in the composite increases the value of λ_e and χ_e over the entire range of temperature under investigation. It has been found that the values of λ_e and χ_e are maximum when 70% of Ni and 30% of Al are mixed in polyaniline matrix. This behaviour is also predicted by an empirical relation, which is obtained from polynomial fit of the experimental data and is explained on the basis of bond formation between metal (Ni and Al) and nitrogen of polyaniline matrix.     

Thermal diffusion of hydrogen in ferromagnetic materials

The thermal diffusion of hydrogen dissolved in a ferromagnetic material is investigated. It is shown that the coefficient of thermal diffusion changes when the material changes into the ferromagnetic state. The possibility of a change in the sign of the thermal diffusion flow when passing through the Curie point is discussed.