Magnetostructural transformations in Ni<Subscript>51</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>36</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>13</Subscript> Heusler alloy thin films

In this paper we report structural, magnetic and transport properties of strongly textured Ni₅₁Mn₃₆Sn₁₃ thin films. The off-stoichiometric Heusler alloy films with 200 nm thickness were sputter-deposited on a MgO(100) substrate at 500 K and after annealed at 1000 K in UHV conditions. The textured growth was confirmed by x-ray diffraction in Bragg-Brentano geometry. The temperature dependence of the magnetic properties was measured by VSM and FMR methods. The electron transport measurements were carried out in function of temperature in 0 Oe and 50 kOe fields. All measurements corroborate the existence of the martensitic transformation in the film. Furthermore, transport measurements reveal an influence of the magnetic field on the transition temperature.     

Spin reorientation transition in (111) textured L10 CoPt layers

In this work, a spin reorientation transition from [001] axis to an in-plane direction occurs near Curie temperature under a small external field for (111) textured L1₀ CoPt layers in an AlN/CoPt multilayer film, indicating the dominant role of the shape anisotropy at elevated temperatures over the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. A large in-plane residual magnetization is also observed after cooling the sample from a temperature above the Curie point. The formation of magnetization during cooling is considered due to the alignment of magnetic moments along the easy axis by the small field in the spin reorientation transition temperature region. Our work reveals the importance of shape anisotropy for the formation of magnetization in the heat assisted magnetic recording process.     

Femtosecond magnito-optics based on photon echoes

A textured three-layer ZnO/Si(P)/Si(B) film in an uniform longitudinal magnetic field with a stregth of 0.4 T exhibits the effect of the polarization plane’s rotation from a stimulated photon echo signal formed at room temperature on the exciton states. At time interval τ₁₂ set to zero and time interval τ₂₃ = 720 and 900 fs, the angles of rotation are 27° and 19°, respectively.     

Ferromagnet–superconductor hybrids

The new class of phenomena described in this review is based on the interaction between spatially separated, but closely located ferromagnets and superconductors, the so-called ferromagnet–superconductor hybrids (FSH). Typical FSH are: coupled uniform and textured ferromagnetic and superconducting films, magnetic dots over a superconducting film, magnetic nanowires in a superconducting matrix, etc. The interaction is provided by the magnetic field generated by magnetic textures and supercurrents. The magnetic flux from magnetic structures or topological defects can pin vortices or create them, changing the transport properties and transition temperature of the superconductor. On the other hand, the magnetic field from supercurrents (vortices) strongly interacts with the magnetic subsystem, leading to formation of coupled magnetic–superconducting topological defects.

The proximity of ferromagnetic layer dramatically changes the properties of the superconducting film. The exchange field in ferromagnets not only suppresses the Cooper-pair wavefunction, but also leads to its oscillations, which in turn leads to oscillations of observable values: the transition temperature and Josephson current. In particular, in the ground state of the Josephson junction the relative phase of two superconductors separated by a layer of ferromagnetic metal is equal to?π?instead of the usual zero (the so-called π-junction). Such a junction carries a spontaneous supercurrent and possesses other unusual properties. Theory predicts that rotation of magnetization transforms s-pairing into p-pairing. The latter is not suppressed by the exchange field and serves as a carrier of long-range interaction between superconductors.     

Magnetic Texturing of Xenon-Irradiated Iron Films Studied by Magnetic Orientation Mössbauer Spectroscopy

Modifications of magnetic properties upon heavy-ion irradiation have been recently investigated for films of ferromagnetic 3d-elements (Fe, Ni, Co) and alloys (permendur, permalloy), in relation to changes of their microstructure. Here we report on Xe-ion irradiation of a highly textured iron film prepared via pulsed-laser deposition on a MgO(100) single crystal and containing a thin ⁵⁷Fe marker layer for magnetic orientation Mössbauer spectroscopy (MOMS). We compare the results with those obtained for a polycrystalline Fe/Si(100) sample produced by electron evaporation and premagnetized before Xe-irradiation in a 300 Oe external field. Characterization of the samples also included magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE), Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).     

Field cooling induced changes in the antiferromagnetic structure of NiO films

The magnetic anisotropy in antiferromagnetic 500 A thick NiO films, before and after the establishment of an exchange bias field with Co84Fe16 ferromagnetic layers, was measured using magnetic linear dichroism in soft x-ray absorption. Both <111> textured NiO and untextured NiO films show exchange-bias induced in-plane magnetic anisotropy of nearly equal magnitude and with the Ni moment axis being nearly parallel to the exchange bias field direction. These results represent the first observation of the key step in the exchange biasing process, namely, repopulation of the antiferromagnetic domains whose magnetization axis is closest to the exchange bias field direction.     

Measurement of the coupling strength distribution in ferromagnetic (F)/antiferromagnetic (AF) exchange bias systems

We propose a method for determination of the distribution function P(j) of the coupling energy density j in polycrystalline textured ferromagnetic (F)/antiferromagnetic (AF) film systems. P(j) governs the entire film coupling J and the exchange bias field H_e and was not measurable until now. The method is verified by torquemetry in a high magnetic field and by reversing its rotation sense. The transition to a new magnetic steady state after rotation reversal is analyzed within a Stoner–Wohlfarth model including thermal relaxation. This transition is completed earlier for strongly coupled grains than for grains with smaller j, which is reflected in the torque curves. We determined P(j) for a sputtered NiFe(16 nm)/IrMn(0.8 nm) film at T=50 K in the hysteretic range of coupling energies and found that P strongly decreases for increasing j.     

Effects of array arrangements in nano-patterned thin film media

In this work, the effect of different arrays arrangements on the magnetic behaviour of patterned thin film media is simulated. The modeled films consist of 80×80 cobalt grains of uniform diameter (20 nm) distributed into two different array arrangement: hexagonal (triangular) or square arrays. In addition to that, for each array arrangement, two cases of anisotropy orientations, random and textured films are considered. For both array arrangements and media orientations, hysteresis loops at different array separation (d) were simulated. Predictions show that for closely packed films, the shearing effects on the magnetization loop are much larger for the square array arrangement than the hexagonal one. According to these predictions, the bit switching field distribution in interacting 2D systems is much narrower for the hexagonal array arrangement. This result could be very important for high-density magnetic recording where a narrow bit switching field distribution is required.     

强磁场下Sm-Fe薄膜不同晶态组织演化及磁性能调控

针对Sm-Fe薄膜的不同晶态组织演化和磁性能调控问题,采用分子束气相沉积方法制备Sm-Fe薄膜时,通过改变Sm含量、膜厚和强磁场来调节薄膜的晶态和磁性能.结果表明,Sm含量可以调节Sm-Fe薄膜的晶态组织演化,而晶态组织的演化和强磁场对磁性能有显著影响.Sm-Fe薄膜在Sm原子比为5.8%时是体心立方晶态组织,在Sm含量为33.0%时为非晶态组织,而膜厚和强磁场不会影响薄膜的晶态组织.非晶态薄膜的表面粗糙度和表面颗粒尺寸都比晶态薄膜的小,施加6 T强磁场会使表面颗粒尺寸增大,而表面粗糙度降低.非晶态薄膜的饱和磁化强度M_s比晶态薄膜的M_s(1466 emu/cm~3,1 emu/cm~3=4π×10-10T)低约47.6%,施加6 T强磁场使非晶态和晶态薄膜的M_s均降低约50%.Sm-Fe薄膜的矫顽力H_c在6—130 Oe(1 Oe=103/(4π)A/m)之间,其中,非晶态薄膜的H_c比晶态薄膜的H_c大.施加6 T强磁场使晶态薄膜的H_c增大,而使非晶态薄膜的H_c减小,最高可以减少95%.结果表明含量和强磁场可以用于调控Sm-Fe薄膜的晶态和磁性能.     

Pulsed laser deposition of hard magnetic films

Pulsed laser deposition from elemental targets was used to prepare highly textured hard magnetic Nd–Fe–B and Fe–Pt films with coercivities of 2 T and 5.2 T, respectively. In situ methods such as reflection high energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy were applied to analyse film composition and structure during growth. Optimisation of the hard magnetic properties is discussed together with the specific advantages of pulsed laser deposition. PACS 81.15.Fg; 75.50.Ww; 75.50.Vv     

Effective anisotropy field variation of magnetite nanoparticles with size reduction

Size effect on the internal magnetic structure has been investigated on weakly interacting magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles by ferromagnetic resonance experiments at 9.5 GHz as a function of temperature (4–300 K). A set of three samples with mean particle size of 2.5 nm, 5.0 nm and 13.0 nm, respectively, were prepared by chemical route with narrow size distribution (σ < 0.27). To minimize the dipolar interaction, the particles were dispersed in a liquid and a solid polymer matrix at ∼0.6% in mass. By freezing the liquid suspension with an applied external field, a textured was obtained. Thus, both random and textured suspensions were studied and compared. The ferromagnetic resonance experiments in zero-field-cooled and field-cooled conditions were carried out to study the size effect on the effective anisotropy field. The dc magnetization measurements clearly show that the internal magnetic structure was strongly affected by the particle size.     

On a moving liquid film and its instability on textured surfaces

Recently, two regimes of viscous friction on textured surfaces were proposed in the context of penetration of liquid film into the texture (EPL 79, 56005 (2007)): the Poiseuille and Stokes regimes. With this idea on viscous friction, we theoretically discuss instabilities on a liquid film on textured surfaces when the film is forced to move with external forces. When a film recedes due to a pressure drop, we find scaling laws for instabilities to be checked in future experiments. When a circular film expands due to centrifugal force we find that the expanding film is stable against rim fluctuations (within the linear stability analysis) with its radius determined by a simple equation. Our discussion sheds light on the curvature of the front of the moving liquid film on textured surfaces and how the film thickness is kept fixed to the texture height on textured surfaces, aspects which have not been discussed in previous studies.     

RF-photon induced Mössbauer satellites in permalloy

The Mössbauer spectra of a permalloy film placed in an rf magnetic field are measured. The film is so thin that transverse magnetostriction oscillations are not excited in it. This permits the observation of satellites that are due solely to periodic variations of the magnetic field at the nucleus. The data are in good agreement with calculations performed in the model of step-wise field reversals. On application of an additional static magnetic field the splitting of the satellites is observed, as predicted by the model of asymmetric step-wise field reversals.     

Mǒsbauer study of the field induced uniaxial anisotropy in electro-deposited FeCo alloy films

Thin ferromagnetic films with in-plane magnetic anisotropy are promising materials for obtaining high microwave permeability.The paper reports a Mo¨ssbauer study of the field induced in-plane uniaxial anisotropy in electro-deposited FeCo alloy films.The FeCo alloy films were prepared by the electro-deposition method with and without an external magnetic field applied parallel to the film plane during deposition.Vibrating sample magnetometry and Mo¨ssbauer spectroscopy measurements at room temperature indicate that the film deposited in external field shows an in-plane uniaxial anisotropy with an easy direction coinciding with the external field direction and a hard direction perpendicular to the field direction,whereas the film deposited without external field does not show any in-plane anisotropy.Mo¨ssbauer spectra taken in three geometric arrangements show that the magnetic moments are almost constrained in the film plane for the film deposited with applied magnetic field.Also,the magnetic moments tend to align in the direction of the applied external magnetic field during deposition,indicating that the observed anisotropy should be attributed to directional ordering of atomic pairs.     

Effect of the percentage of normal phase on the penetration of a magnetic field into textured superconducting metallic oxides of yttrium

The penetration of a magnetic field into textured high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs) based on yttrium is studied experimentally. Samples contain impregnations of normal phase (Y-211) in sizes of 1 to 30 micron. A pronounced effect of the percentage of the normal phase on the value of the penetration field is revealed: penetration occurs at lower values of the magnetic field upon a reduction in the percentage of Y₂BaCuO₅. Vortices are shown to penetrate the superconductor in the form of bundles.     

Tunable diffraction of magnetic fluid films and its potential application in coarse wavelength-division multiplexing

When an external magnetic field is applied parallel to the film surface of a magnetic fluid film, a high-quality one-dimensional periodic chain structure is formed when the field strength reaches a certain level. With a periodic chain structure in the magnetic fluid film, an incident light is diffracted onto the magnetic thin film. The results show that the one-dimensional periodic chain structure in the magnetic fluid film can serve as an optical grating. Further investigations reveal the feasibility of developing tunable coarse wavelength-division multiplexing by utilizing a periodic chain structure.     

Nonadiabatic geometric phase in a textured mesoscopic ring subject to a crown-like magnetic field

With the aid of the exact solution for a quantum spin-1/2 in a rotating magnetic field and by imposing a commensurability condition, we propose a novel experiment to test a kind of Aharonov-Anandan (AA) geometric phase in a textured mesoscopic ring subject to a crown-like magnetic field.     

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.     

Dynamic stability of a spiral domain in an ac magnetic field

The dependence of the stability of a magnetic spiral domain in a film on the parameters of the film and its domain structure and on an external magnetic field is considered within a phenomenological model. The model allows one to explain a number of experimentally observed properties of dynamic spiral domains resulting from the process of self-organization of domains and domain walls in an iron-garnet film placed in an external ac magnetic field.     

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.