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.     

Formation of phase domain structures in thin films under conditions of a first-order magnetic phase transition

This paper reports on the results of a theoretical investigation into the magnetic and resonance properties of thin films in the range of the transition from a paramagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state in the case where the magnetic transition is a first-order phase transformation. It is demonstrated that, in an external magnetic field directed perpendicular to the film plane, the formation of a specific domain structure consisting of domains of the coexisting paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases can appear to be energetically favorable. The parameters of the equilibrium system of stripe phase domains and their dependences on the temperature, the magnetic field, and the characteristics of the material are calculated. The specific features of the magnetic resonance spectra under the conditions of formed stripe phase domains are considered. A relationship is derived for the dependence of the resonance field of the system of ferromagnetic domains on the magnetization and temperature. It is shown that the alternating external field can fulfill an orientation function in the formation of stripe phase domains.     

Dynamic origin of stripe domains

We investigate stripe domain formation in nanometer sized Co bars. The magnetic equilibrium states and the magnetic spin wave frequencies are obtained from micromagnetic-like simulations. We find that the lowest frequency standing-wave mode has the same spatial structure as the stripe domains at remanence and it goes soft at the field where the stripe domains emerge. We show, therefore, that the final domain structure at remanence, which is not the configuration with lowest energy, is predicted from a high-field analysis of the frequencies of the standing spin waves.     

Magnetic stripe domains in coupled magnetic sandwiches

Magnetic stripe domains in the spin reorientation transition region are investigated in (Fe/Ni)/Cu(001) and Co/Cu/(Fe/Ni)/Cu(001) using photoemission electron microscopy. For (Fe/Ni)/Cu(001), the stripe domain width decreases exponentially as the Fe/Ni film approaches the spin reorientation transition point. For Co/Cu/(Fe/Ni)/Cu(001), the Fe/Ni stripe orientation is aligned with the Co in-plane magnetization, and the stripe domain width decreases exponentially with increasing the interlayer coupling between the Fe/Ni and Co films. By considering magnetic stripes within an in-plane magnetic field, we reveal a universal dependence of the stripe domain width on the magnetic anisotropy and on the interlayer coupling.     

自旋转向相变中的条纹磁畴研究

用光激发电子显微镜研究了Fe／Ni铁磁膜和Co／Cu／Fe／Ni磁耦合膜中的条纹磁畴．实验发现：在Fe／Ni体系中，条纹磁畴宽度随着铁层厚度趋近于自旋转向相变点呈指数下降；在Co／Cu／Fe／Ni体系中，Fe／M层中的条纹磁畴会沿着钴层磁矩的方向排列，其磁畴宽度会随着Co-Fe／Ni间的层间耦合强度呈指数下降．理论上推导出条纹磁畴随着磁各向异性能和层间耦合强度变化的统一公式，而实验结果与理论符合得非常好。     

自旋转向相变中的条纹磁畴研究

用光激发电子显微镜研究了Fe/Ni铁磁膜和Co/Cu/Fe/Ni磁耦合膜中的条纹磁畴. 实验发现：在Fe/Ni体系中,条纹磁畴宽度随着铁层厚度趋近于自旋转向相变点呈指数下降;在Co/Cu/Fe/Ni体系中,Fe/Ni层中的条纹磁畴会沿着钴层磁矩的方向排列,其磁畴宽度会随着Co－Fe/Ni间的层间耦合强度呈指数下降. 理论上推导出条纹磁畴随着磁各向异性能和层间耦合强度变化的统一公式,而实验结果与理论符合得非常好.     

Dense stripe domains in a nanocrystalline CoFeSiB thin film

We recently reported a possible antiferromagnetically coupled phase in a Co-rich CoFeSiB thin film, that had a partially nanocrystalline Co phase in an amorphous CoFeSiB matrix. Although an amorphous CoFeSiB film should show a ferromagnetic behavior, we observed an antiferromagnetic coupling associated with a nanocrystalline Co phase in the hysteresis-loop measurements of Co-rich CoFeSiB thin films. We ascribed the observed antiferromagnetic coupling to dense stripe domains consisting of periodically up and down domains perpendicular to the surface of the film. The configuration of the stripe domains was confirmed with magnetic force microscopy images. When a longitudinal magnetic field was applied, the size of the stripe domain was reduced. While for a transverse field, the domain structure became tilted and zigzagged, but no in-plane magnetic anisotropy was noted. When the magnetic field was increased to values above the saturation magnetic field, H_S = 2.5 kOe, the domain structure disappeared.     

Orientation of the stripe domains in a YIG film subjected to a magnetic field

The orientation of the stripe domains subjected to an in-plane magnetic field has been measured through the Faraday effect for a (001)-thin film of YIG epitaxially grown on a Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ substrate. The result obtained when this field was rotated in the plane of the film was found to be consistent with a stray-field-free model and allows the stress to be determined.     

Influence of the film thickness and additional elements (Al,O, and N) on the properties of FeCo film structures

The magnetic properties and domain structure of FeCoAlON thin films with thicknesses varying from 55 to 550 nm have been studied, and conditions favoring preparation of FeCoAlON films with uniaxial anisotropy in the direction normal to the film plane, which is required for designing “perpendicular” super-high-density information recording, have been established. In FeCoAlON films with a thickness up to 300 nm, the domain structure consists of cross-linked domain walls, because strong demagnetizing field suppresses formation of stripe domains. After the film thickness has reached 320 nm, cross-linked domain walls transform into stripe domains, with uniaxial anisotropy in the film plane disappearing, to become replaced by uniaxial anisotropy in the direction normal to the film plane, which can be assigned to magnetoelastic stresses induced by nitrogen atoms filling up interstitial space in the (110) plane. A further increase in the film thickness (up to 550 nm) leads to a rotational anisotropy due to the increase of nitrogen concentration in interstitials and the increase of magnetoelastic stresses.     

Spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy with antiferromagnetic probe tips

We have performed low temperature spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) of two monolayers Fe on W(110) using tungsten tips coated with different magnetic materials. We observe stripe domains with a magnetic period of 50 +/- 5 nm. Employing Cr as a coating material we recorded SP-STM images with an antiferromagnetic probe tip. The advantage of its vanishing dipole field is most apparent in external magnetic fields. This new approach resolves the problem of the disturbing influence of a ferromagnetic tip in the investigation of soft magnetic materials and superparamagnetic particles.     

Numerical simulations of isolated particles susceptibilities: effects of shape and size

We present here a sketch of some numerical results offered by a micromagnetism code based on the resolution of the Landau–Lifchitz equation. We have computed equilibrium configurations and dynamic susceptibilities to a weak field for magnetic materials with non-uniform magnetization and finite size and shape: cubic particles, finite-sized films with stripe domains and platelets with in-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The obtained results have been compared with analytical models and experimental results. Some non-trivial effects have been pointed out (like surface modes) and fine details can be disclosed by susceptibility maps.     

Altering the superconductor transition temperature by domain-wall arrangements in hybrid ferromagnet-superconductor structures

The [Co/Pt]n/Nb/[Co/Pt]n hybrids with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy reveal enhanced superconductivity with the presence, and the arrangements, of domain walls, where superconductivity persists. An in-plane field can manipulate the domain walls from labyrinth to stripe patterns and drive the hybrids from normal to superconducting. We observe anisotropic superconductivity in hybrids with stripe domains, along which enhanced superconductivity is realized.     

Electric-field-induced domain evolution in ferroelectric ultrathin films

The electric-field-induced evolution of the recently discovered periodic 180 degree nanostripe domain structure is predicted in epitaxial Pb(Zr0.5Ti0.5)O3 ultrathin films from first principles. This evolution involves (1) the lateral growth of majority dipole domains at the expense of minority domains with the overall stripe periodicity remaining unchanged, (2) the creation of surface-avoiding nanobubbles, and (3) the formation of a single monodomain state. Analogies and differences (i) with ferroelectric thin films made of BaTiO3 and (ii) with ferromagnetic thin films under magnetic field are discussed.     

磁畴壁手性和磁斯格明子的拓扑性表征及其调控

磁性斯格明子由于拓扑的保护性,具有很高的稳定性和较小的临界驱动电流,有望应用于未来的赛道存储器件中.而在中心对称体系,由于偶极作用的各向同性,磁泡的拓扑性和螺旋度都呈现出多样性的特征.其中非平庸的磁泡即等同于磁性斯格明子.我们通过近期实验结果,结合微磁学模拟的方法,发现在中心对称体系中磁斯格明子的拓扑性会受到体系垂直各向异性的调控.另外在加磁场的演变过程中,会很大程度上依赖于基态畴的畴壁特性.磁场的倾斜或者一定的面内各向异性也会改变磁斯格明子的形态.通过对材料的基态磁结构及磁各向异性的调节,辅助以面内分量的控制,可以对基态磁畴、进而对磁斯格明子的拓扑性实现调控.这对磁斯格明子在电流驱动存储器件中的应用具有重要意义.     

Effect of grain misorientation on the stripe domains in evaporated cobalt films

X-ray diffraction and magnetic force microscopy techniques were used to investigate the structural and the static magnetic properties of vapor-deposited cobalt films with various thicknesses t ranging from 50 to 195 nm. Texture measurements revealed that as the thickness increases, the films become predominantly c-axis oriented. Magnetic stripe domains structure was only observed for the thicker films, with t=195, 173 and 125 nm, while such a magnetic configuration was expected for all the samples based on the theoretical studies. Since the layers present increasing c-axis misorientation when the thickness decreases, we assume that this effect can prevent the stripe domains formation. This behavior is qualitatively explained by a simple model which describes the stripe domains structure taking into account the role of a small misorientation of the anisotropy axis.     

Polar exit angle distributions of slow H<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions,related to the presence of a regular domain structure,calculated within the diffuse scattering approximation upon interaction of ions with the sample surface

The angular distributions of slow H ions scattered from the surface of a magnetic film with a stripe domain structure have been calculated. The calculations were performed within the models of specular and diffuse scattering upon collisions of ions with surface. It is shown that the magnetic fields of the stripe domain structure block the ions scattered at small exit angles. It is established that, within the more adequate model of diffuse scattering, the anisotropy of interaction of ions with the magnetic field of the stripe structure manifests itself in a wider angular range.     

The dynamics of domain walls in an easy-plane magnet in the field of an acoustic wave

The drift of a 180° domain wall is studied in an easy-plane weak two-sublattice ferromagnet subject to an elastic-stress field generated by an acoustic wave. The dependences of the drift velocity on the amplitude and polarization of the acoustic wave are found. The conditions of the drift of a stripe domain structure are determined.     

Low power light deflector on domain structure in (Y,Ca)3(Fe,Ge)5O12

The domain structures in (Y, Ca)₃(Fe, Ge)₅O₁₂ epitaxial garnet films were investigated as a function of various directions and the intensity of an applied magnetic field. The cubic anisotropy has a strong influence on the domain structure properties in these samples. Very large changes of the stripe domains directions could be obtained by applying a low magnetic field (about 1 [Oe]). The investigated domain structure properties could be used for the light deflectors of a new type, based on the light diffraction.     

A study of the stripe domain phase at the spin reorientation transition of two-dimensional magnetic system

Stripe domain phase in a two-dimensional magnetic system was studied using model calculation and Monte-Carlo simulation in the spin reorientation transition (SRT) region. We find that near the SRT point the stripe domains evolve into a static spin wave structure with a fractional in-plane magnetization along the stripe direction and a fractional out-of-plane magnetization in a sinusoidal form. With increase in the uniaxial perpendicular anisotropy, both the wavelength and the height of the static spin wave increase slowly until the saturation of the wave height, after which the stripe width increases exponentially with the magnetic anisotropy. Our theoretical result is in good agreement with experimental observations.