铁磁球/反铁磁纳米体系磁滞回线的Monte Carlo模拟

利用经典Heisenberg模型和Monte Carlo方法研究外磁场和反铁磁磁晶各向异性、交换相互作用对铁磁球均匀嵌入到反铁磁基体中的铁磁/反铁磁纳米体系磁滞回线的影响.模拟结果显示,外加反向最大磁场不同时,磁滞回线形状不同.当磁场正向增加时,体系的磁化强度会产生一个跃变,但跃变高度与反向场最大值无关.反铁磁磁晶各向异性越大,体系的交换偏置现象越明显,且磁化强度回到饱和值所需的外磁场越大.随着反铁磁基体交换相互作用的增大,在正向和负向磁场区域还可能出现新的磁滞现象.     

Kinetics of magnetization reversal in a heterophase nanomagnet with spatially modulated anisotropy

Magnetization reversal modes in a thin-film NiFeCuMo ferromagnet (FM) with periodically varying in-plane anisotropy are studied by the magneto-optical indicator film (MOIF) technique. The uni-directional anisotropy in FM regions exchange-coupled to a FeMn antiferromagnet (AFM) film in the form of square mesh stripes is alternated by the uniaxial anisotropy in the FM regions inside this mesh. It is shown that the boundaries formed along the edges of these stripes, which separate FM regions with different anisotropy, crucially influence the kinetics of domain-structure transformation in both types of FM regions. It is established that the lateral exchange anisotropy in the ferromagnet, which is determined by the stabilization of the spin distribution in the FM layer along the FM-(FM/AFM) interface, leads to the asymmetry of the magnetization reversal in FM regions bordered with an FM/AFM structure. Anisotropy of the mobility of 180-degree “charged” and “uncharged” domain walls situated, respectively, perpendicular and parallel to the unidirectional anisotropy axis is revealed. The difference observed between the mobilities of charged and uncharged domain walls is attributed to the difference in the spin distribution in these walls with respect to the unidirectional anisotropy axis and is a key factor for the difference between the magnetization reversal kinetics in horizontal and vertical exchange-biased FM stripes. Drastic differences are revealed in the asymmetry of magnetization reversal processes in mutually perpendicular narrow stripes of FM/AFM structures. Possible mechanisms of magnetization reversal in low-dimensional FM-(FM/AFM) heterostructures are discussed with regard to the effect of domain walls localized on the edges of AFM layers.     

Zero—field—cooled and field—cooled magnetizations and magnetic susceptibility of itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3

Zero-field-cooled(ZFC) magnetization,field-cooled(FC) magnetization,ac magnetic susceptibility and major hysteresis loops of itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3 have been measured at magnetic ordering temperatures ranging from 5 to 160K.An empirical model is proposed to calculate the measured ZFC magnetization.The result indicates that the calculated ZFC magnetization compares well with the measured one.Based on the generalized Preisach model.both the ZFC and FC curves are reproduced by numerical simulations.The critical temperature and critical exponents are determined by measuring the ac magnetic susceptibility in different bias magnetic fields at temperatures in the vicinity of the point of phase transition.     

Asymmetric magnetization reversal behavior and noncollinear anisotropies in exchange-bias system

The effect of noncollinearity between unidirectional and uniaxial anisotropies on asymmetric magnetization reversal of ferromagnet/antiferromagnet (FM/AFM) bilayer has been investigated. The results show the emergence of noncollinear anisotropies comes from the competition among applied magnetic field, magnetic anisotropy and exchange coupling in FM/AFM interface. The noncollinearity can lead to the asymmetry of hysteresis loop of FM/AFM bilayer. However, when the magnetic field is applied along the uniaxial anisotropy axis of FM layer, the hysteresis loop of FM/AFM bilayer is always symmetry independence of the noncollinear angle. Our results indicate that the asymmetry not only originates from the noncollinearity but also depends on the applied magnetic field orientation. Moreover, the asymmetry of hysteresis loop is always along with the appearance of unequivalence for magnetization reversal of FM/AFM bilayer, and there is a periodicity of π with orientation of applied field for its periodicity independence of the angle of the noncollinearity between the uniaxial and unidirectional anisotropies. The results can help us to open additional avenues to tailor the future advance magnetic device.     

Correlation of thickness and magnetization in LCMO film

High quality thin films of La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (LCMO) of different thickness were grown on LAO substrates by pulsed laser deposition (KrF, λ = 278 nm). The AFM images suggest a twodimensional step-growth. DC magnetization measurements of the films in a field of 500 Oe show that the magnetic ordering temperature is the same for all the films in both FC and ZFC conditions and is the same as that for the bulk. However, a difference is seen between the FC and ZFC magnetization of the films. There seems to be a systematic in this difference with respect to the thickness of the film, with the difference decreasing with thickness. We suggest that the difference in the magnetization under FC and ZFC conditions may be due to strain-induced anisotropy arising from the lattice mismatch between the substrate and the film or due to the shape anisotropy due to epitaxial growth Article presented at the International Symposium on Advances in Superconductivity and Magnetism: Materials, Mechanisms and Devices, ASMM2D-2001, 25–28 September 2001, Mangalore, India.     

Tuning exchange bias through zero field cooling from different remanent states above blocking temperature in Ni50Mn36Sb14 alloy

Changing remanent states above blocking temperature (T_B) in Ni₅₀Mn₃₆Sb₁₄ alloy has been proven to be an effective way of tuning the value and sign of exchange bias (EB) field. The hysteresis loops at 5 K exhibit double shifted shape, indicating that there are two opposite EB signs resulting from an imprint of domain pattern of ferromagnetic (FM) regions into anti‐ferromagetic (AFM) ones during cooling. All the results demonstrate that the interfacial spin configuration plays a crucial role on the origin of EB, while the high cooling field not only induces a single FM domain state above T_B but also tunes the fractions of FM and AFM interactions through martensitic transition. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Magnetic domains and anisotropy in single crystals of Er(Co,Mn)O3

We have previously reported the magnetic properties of the Er(Co,Mn)O₃ solid solution, in which Mn atoms have been partially substituted by Co. Several magnetic entities coexist in this system (Er³⁺, Mn³⁺, Mn⁴⁺, Co²⁺, Co³⁺), resulting into a subtle interplay between different interactions and leading to unusual phenomena such as: a spin reversal due to antiferromagnetic exchange between erbium and transition-metal spins, a step-like transition due to reorientation of magnetic domains, a relaxation mechanism connected to the rotation energy of the domains, the intersection of the increasing and decreasing branches in the magnetization loops, etc. These results have been obtained in highly dense ceramic samples for compositions near ErCo_0.50Mn_0.50O₃. In order to better understand the different mechanisms, we have started a program on crystal growth. High-quality single crystals of orthorhombic structure (S.G. Pbnm) of Er(Co,Mn)O₃ manganite were grown in a floating-zone oven under oxygen atmosphere. Although the zero-field-cooled/field cooled (ZFC/FC) curves confirm the spin reversal observed in bulk samples, the remarkable effects seen on hysteresis loops for bulk samples were not present in single crystals, probably due to oxygenation conditions. On the other hand, a very large anisotropy was observed between two perpendicular orientations of the single crystal.     

Exchange bias and asymmetric reversal in nanostructured dot arrays

The size dependence of exchange bias field HE and coercivity Hc was studied by measuring exchange biased Fe-FeF2 dot arrays in comparison with an unstructured exchange biased Fe-FeF2 bilayer. The domain sizes in the ferromagnet (FM) and the antiferromagnet (AFM) play an important role for exchange bias (EB), and thus interesting phenomena may be expected when the size of an EB system becomes comparable to these sizes. We observe drastic changes of HE and Hc in nanostructured Fe-FeF2, which are unexpected because they appear even at a structure size which is too large for matching with AFM or FM domain size to play a role. We propose that under certain conditions the hysteresis loop is affected differently in the two branches of the reversal by shape anisotropy due to patterning. This is possible because the EB induces a reversal asymmetry already in the unpatterned bilayer system.     

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     

Direct observation of chiral susceptibility in the canonical spin glass AuFe

The extraordinary Hall resistivity rho(xy) and the magnetization M of a canonical spin glass AuFe (8 at.% Fe) were measured simultaneously as functions of temperature with the best care to the thermal and the magnetic field hysteresis. The data of rho(xy) show an anomaly at the spin glass transition temperature T(g) and have different zero field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) measurements below T(g). Moreover, the value of rho(xy)/M, which represents the chiral susceptibility of the system in the present case, also shows the difference between ZFC and FC measurements. The results are consistent with the predictions of the chirality scenario of canonical spin glasses by Kawamura.     

小尺寸正方形铁磁薄膜边界效应对磁化翻转过程的影响

用自旋动力学方法系统地研究磁偶极相互作用表现的边界效应对小尺寸正方形铁磁薄膜的磁化翻转过程的影响.在确定的磁偶极相互作用强度下,针对不同的单轴各向异性强度和不同的磁化角(外磁场与易轴间的夹角),具体给出矫顽场与磁化角及单轴各向异性强度之间的依赖关系和-些有代表性的磁滞回线,并给出磁化翻转过程中-些有代表性的微观磁结构.模拟结果表明:磁偶极相互作用表现的边界钉扎作用与单轴各向异性场之间的竞争决定磁滞回线的形状和矫顽场的大小,从而在不同磁化角情况下会导致不同的矫顽场机理.本文提出可有效地描述正方形铁磁性薄膜复杂微观磁畴结构的形成与演变的五磁畴模型.这种五磁畴模型既能直接揭示单轴各向异性正方形铁磁薄膜的几何特性和物理特性,也方便于磁化翻转过程的分析.     

Exchange bias in ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayers

Since the exchange bias （EB） effect was discovered in the Co/CoO core-shell nanoparticles, it has been extensively studied in various ferromagnet （FM）/antiferromagnet （AFM） bilayers due to its crucial role in spintronics devices. In this article, we review the investigation of the EB in our research group. First, we outline basic features of the EB, including the effects of the constituent layer thickness, the microstructure and magnetization of the FM layers, and we also discuss asymmetric magnetization reversal process in wedged-FM/AFM bilayers. Secondly, we discuss the mechanisms of the positive EB and the perpendicular EB. Thirdly, we demonstrate the hysteretic behavior of the angular dependence of the EB and analyze the EB training effect. Finally, we discuss the roles of the rotatable anisotropy in the two phenomena.     

外应力场下铁磁/反铁磁双层膜系统中的自旋波

采用自由能极小的方法研究了铁磁/反铁磁双层膜系统在外应力场下的一致进动自旋波性质，即铁磁共振现象. 本模型中铁磁层很薄可看成单畴结构，但具有单轴磁晶各向异性和立方磁晶各向异性；而反铁磁层仅具有单轴磁晶各向异性，但其厚度趋于半无穷. 推导出了该系统的铁磁共振频率和频谱宽度的解析式. 结果表明，外应力场和界面交换耦合或反铁磁磁强度仅在弱磁场下对系统的铁磁共振有影响，且系统的铁磁共振行为按磁场强度可分为两支，其区分弱磁场和强磁场的临界场依赖于外应力场的方向. 另一方面，应力场方向的改变可借助于反铁磁层磁畴变化对铁磁层磁晶各向异性轴有影响. 关键词： 铁磁/反铁磁双层膜 界面耦合强度 铁磁共振 应力场     

正交各向异性双层交换弹簧薄膜的磁矩分布

本文以Pt_(84)Co_(16)/TbFeCo双层交换弹簧体系为研究对象,利用微磁学连续模型,研究了软/硬磁层易轴方向相互垂直的新型体系中磁矩的分布特征.研究结果表明,磁矩偏离薄膜法线方向的角度在软磁层中沿膜厚方向的变化速率比硬磁层中的快.通过调节软磁层参数来增加软/硬磁的各向异性常数比、交换能常数比、饱和磁化强度比或外磁场强度,都可有效改变磁矩偏角在软/硬磁层中的变化速率.特别是当软/硬磁各向异性常数比值和交换能常数比值同时增大时,可以使得磁矩在硬磁层中的变化速率快于软磁层中的.而饱和磁化强度比值对磁矩变化速率的影响源于饱和磁化强度的变化会相应地改变各向异性常数,进而改变磁矩在软/硬磁层中磁矩方向变化速率的比值.此体系的磁滞回线显示磁性参数的改变可以显著改变体系的剩磁及饱和磁场.软磁层中的退磁场能及体系的正交各向异性可导致负的成核场.     

Large vertical loop shifts in mechanically synthesized (Mn,Fe)2O3−t nanograins

Magnetic properties of zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) sample of (Mn,Fe)₂O_3−t nanograins have been investigated by magnetometry (up to 70 kOe) and Mössbauer spectroscopy (up to 60 kOe) in the temperature interval 4.2–300 K. Large horizontal (up to 0.8 kOe) and vertical (up to 80%) shifts of the magnetization hysteresis loops are observed in the FC regime. The obtained results are discussed in terms of exchange interaction between an antiferromagnetic core and a spin-glass-like state of the nanograins boundaries. It is shown that hysteresis loop shifts (horizontal and vertical) depend on the field cooling magnitude, an effect that can be understood by the change of the boundary magnetic structure induced by the external magnetic field. The vertical magnetization shift is described by a phenomenological model, which takes into account the magnetic interaction between the spin-glass like boundary spins and the applied field.     

Magnetization processes in nanocrystalline gadolinium

The thermal decline in magnetization, M(T), at fixed magnetic field (H) under 'zero-field-cooled' (ZFC) and 'field-cooled' (FC) conditions, the time evolution of ZFC magnetization, M(ZFC)(t), at fixed temperature and field, M(H) hysteresis loops/isotherms, and ac susceptibility have been measured on polycrystalline Gd samples with average grain sizes of d = 12 and 18 nm. The irreversibility in magnetization, M(irr), occurring below a characteristic temperature that reduces with increasing H, is completely suppressed above a grain-size-dependent threshold field, H*. At low fields (H ≤ 100 Oe), M(irr)(T), like the coercive field, H(c)(T), exhibits a minimum at ～16 K and a broad peak at ～50 K before going to zero at T ? T(C) (Curie temperature). At fixed temperature (T < T(C)) and field (H ? H*), where M(irr) is finite, M(ZFC) has a logarithmic dependence on time. The magnetic viscosity (S) at H = 1 Oe and T ≤ 290 K is independent of the measurement time above ～2 ms but for t < 2 ms it is strongly time-dependent. S(T) peaks at T ? T(C) for H = 1 Oe. A magnetic field reduces the peak height and shifts the peak in S(T) to lower temperatures. All the above observations are put on a consistent theoretical footing within the framework of a model in which the intra-grain magnetizations overcome the energy barriers (brought about by the intra-grain and grain-boundary/interfacial magnetic anisotropies) by the thermal activation process. These field- and temperature-dependent energy barriers, that separate the high-energy metastable (ZFC) state from the stable minimum-energy (FC) state, are independent of time for t ? 2 ms and have a very broad distribution. We show that the shape anisotropy plays a decisive role in the magnetization reversal process, and that the magnetocrystalline and magnetostatic fluctuations, prevalent in the grain-boundary and interfacial regions, govern the approach-to-saturation of magnetization in nanocrystalline Gd.     

Implications of nanoparticle concentration and size distribution in the superparamagnetic behaviour of aging-improved maghemite xerogels

Evolution of static magnetic properties of a set of enhanced γ-Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ nanocomposites with different iron concentration has been studied on the basis of their corresponding hysteresis loops, zero-field/field-cooled (ZFC/FC) magnetization curves and transmission electron microscopy images. The lack of coercivity in all compositions, as well as the fulfillment of the H/T scaling law by the magnetization above the blocking temperature of each system under study, evidence a superparamagnetic behaviour in the iron oxide nanoparticles. In order to study the influence of iron content in the unblocking processes of nanoparticles, ZFC curves under different applied magnetic fields have been fitted to a model considering the systems under study as a distribution of energy barriers. Depart from the superparamagnetic model is discussed considering interparticle interactions.     

Hydrogen induced changes of the interlayer coupling in Fe(3)/V(x) superlattices (x=11–16)

The effect of hydrogen on the magnetic exchange coupling between iron layers through vanadium spacer layers has been studied with magneto-optical Kerr effect experiments in Fe₍₃₎/V_(x) superlattices. Here x refers to the number of V monolayers varying from 11 to 16 and the Fe layer thickness is fixed at three monolayers. Without hydrogen the superlattice is antiferromagnetic (AFM) for x between 12 and 14 and ferromagnetic (FM) in all other cases. With hydrogen loading the coupling can be switched from AFM to FM and vice versa. As previously observed with neutron reflectivity measurements (Hjörvarsson et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 79 (1997) 901) the change of the interlayer coupling upon hydrogen uptake is not simply due to the expansion of the non-magnetic vanadium spacer layer but more likely to the distortion of the Fermi surface. Bilinear and biquadratic exchange couplings can be recognized by the magnetic hysteresis loops and their coupling energies have been extracted by fits to the curves. For all samples the easy axis of the magnetization is in the plane without any preferred in-plane direction. Hydrogen loading does not affect the magnetic anisotropy of these samples.     

Thermomagnetic hysteresis and electrical transport in amorphous films

We report resistivity and magnetization measurements on an amorphous Ni₇₄Mn₂₄Pt₂ thin film in the temperature range of 3–300 K. Two significant features are apparent in both the magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity. A low-temperature (low-T) anomaly is observed at about 40 K, where a cusp appears in the resistivity, while a concomitant step-like increase in zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetization (M) appears with increasing temperature. The low-T anomaly is attributed to a crossover from a pure re-entrant spin-glass within individual domains to a mixed ferro-spin-glass regime at lower temperatures. By contrast, the high-temperature (high-T) anomaly, signaled by the appearance of hysteresis below 250 K, corresponds to the freezing of transverse spins in individual domains acting independently. Between the low-T and high-T anomalies a small but discernable magnetic hysteresis is observed for warming vs. cooling in the field-cooled (FC) case. This behavior clearly indicates the presence of domain structure in the sample, while the disappearance of this hysteresis at lower temperatures indicates the complete freezing of the spin orientation of these domains. According to these results, we have divided the magnetic state of this sample into three regions: at temperatures above 250 K, the sample behaves like a soft ferromagnet, exhibiting M vs. H loops with very small hysteresis (less than 5 Oe). As the temperature is lowered into the intermediate region (the range 40–250 K), spins become frozen randomly and progressively within the individual domains. These domains behave independently, rather than as a cooperative behavior of the sample. Weak irreversibility sets in, indicating the onset of transverse spin freezing within the domains. At temperatures below 40 K, the M vs. H loops exhibit larger hysteresis, for both the ZFC and FC cases, as in a pure spin-glass. We have also demonstrated giant noise in the resistivity at temperatures just below 250 K. Such noise can originate from fluctuations of the domains near the film surface because of competing effective bulk and surface anisotropy fields. The large observed amplitude may be explained by means of a large ferromagnetic anisotropy in the resistivity due to the large spin–orbit effect seen in NiMn systems. Finally, the low-T peak in the resistivity has been analyzed using Fisher and Langer's expression based on the Friedel Model proposed for critical transitions in transition metals (s–d systems). The fitted results are in satisfactory agreement with the predictions of this model.     

Exchange bias in bulk layered hydroxylammonium fluorocobaltate (NH?OH)?CoF?

The magnetic properties of layered hydroxylammonium fluorocobaltate (NH(3)OH)(2)CoF(4) were investigated by measuring its dc magnetic susceptibility in zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) regimes, its frequency dependent ac susceptibility, its isothermal magnetization curves after ZFC and FC regimes, and its heat capacity. Effects of pressure and magnetic field on magnetic phase transitions were studied by susceptibility and heat capacity measurements, respectively. The system undergoes a magnetic phase transition from a paramagnetic state to a canted antiferromagnetic state exhibiting a weak ferromagnetic behavior at T(C) = 46.5 K and an antiferromagnetic transition at T(N) = 2.9 K. The most spectacular manifestation of the complex magnetic behavior in this system is a shift of the isothermal magnetization hysteresis loop in a temperature range below 20 K after the FC regime-an exchange bias phenomenon. We investigated the exchange bias as a function of the magnetic field during cooling and as a function of temperature. The observed exchange bias was attributed to the large exchange anisotropy which exists due to the quasi-2D structure of the layered (NH(3)OH)(2)CoF(4) material.