Vortex chirality control in magnetic submicron dots with asymmetrical magnetic properties in lateral direction

The authors use micromagnetic simulation to investigate the magnetization reversal process of a new ferromagnetic submicron dot structure composed of a lateral gradient magnetization. The reversal process in this new structure begins at the both edges along and is perpendicular to the applied magnetic field due to introducing a demagnetizing field from the interface of the magnetization gradient. This leads to a two-stage nucleation process. Based on the analytical results, a novel submicron structure with a quarter of lateral gradient magnetization is proposed to control the chirality of a vortex, which is important for applications that use the vortex's chirality.     

Monte Carlo simulation of magnetic multi-core nanoparticles

In this paper, a Monte Carlo simulation is carried out to evaluate the equilibrium magnetization of magnetic multi-core nanoparticles in a liquid and subjected to a static magnetic field. The particles contain a magnetic multi-core consisting of a cluster of magnetic single-domains of magnetite. We show that the magnetization of multi-core nanoparticles cannot be fully described by a Langevin model. Inter-domain dipolar interactions and domain magnetic anisotropy contribute to decrease the magnetization of the particles, whereas the single-domain size distribution yields an increase in magnetization. Also, we show that the interactions affect the effective magnetic moment of the multi-core nanoparticles.     

Stability of the magnetic domain structure of nanoparticle thin films against external fields

We investigate the effect of external magnetic fields on the magnetic structure of thin films from magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) with dipolar interaction. Such fields are present, for example, if samples are scanned with magnetic probes. Numerical simulations and experimental magnetic force microscopy (MFM) studies are presented. Numerically, we have calculated the magnetization pattern of single-layer and multilayer MNP thin films. The calculations show that unperturbed single-layer MNP films have an in-plane orientation of the magnetization with a flux-closure-domain pattern. An external field generated by a point dipole above the film induces locally an out-of-plane configuration of the magnetization. In the corresponding MFM images, the domain pattern in the film is erased and a stripe-like contrast enhancement at the edges appears. Multilayer films are found to be more robust against external fields than monolayers.     

Kerr microscopy study of magnetization reversal in uniaxial Co-films

We have studied the magnetization reversal of uniaxial Co(1 0 1 0) films as a function of the applied field orientation by means of magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy. Hereby, we find that while stable intermediate domain states exist for most field directions, their occurrence is suppressed for field orientations along the easy axis of magnetization. To facilitate this study, we have developed a data extraction methodology that allows for the quantitative analysis and compact display of entire magnetization distribution field-sequences in a single picture. It furthermore allows for the automated data analysis to unambiguously distinguish magnetization rotation processes from field-induced domain formation.     

Saturation Magnetization and Law of Approach to Saturation for Self-formed Ionic Ferrofluids Based on MnFe2O2 Nanoparticles

测量了MnFe₂O₄纳米微粒及其磁性液体在室温下的磁化曲线.微粒的中值粒径为13.67 nm. 磁性液体的比饱和磁化强度小于理论值.在高场范围(5～10 kOe)下,磁性液体趋于饱和时,其体积分数越大,磁化曲线的斜率越大. 这种饱和磁化强度性质和趋饱和律分别源自于无场时的环状自组装团聚体和场致团聚体. 场致团聚体是耗散结构,以致于其趋饱和磁化律不同于顺磁理论所描述的趋饱和律. 磁性液体中的大微粒导致了表观磁滞现象.     

Low-field negative magnetization and coercive-field magnetization reversal in transition metal chalcogenides; Cr2FeSe4 magnetic structure from neutron diffraction

Low-field negative magnetization, of the order of −10⁻¹ emu/g-Oe, from 4.2 K up to room temperature and higher (350 K), and coercive-field magnetization reversal are both present in Cr_(3−x)Fe_xX₄ for X=S, Se, Te and x=0 to 3, and for Cr₅Te₈ and Cr₇Te₈. For Cr₂FeSe₄ the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetization is negative for 5 Oe and below. To obtain a more detailed knowledge of the magnetic phases involved in the observed magnetization versus temperature M(T) curves, we obtained and studied neutron diffraction (n.d.) scans on the compound Cr₂FeSe₄, taken at 14 temperatures from 4.2 to 300 K. For this same n.d. sample, the temperature for magnetization reversal of value −3×10⁻⁴ emu/g-Oe is 80 K in 40 Oe applied field, then the reversal disappears for 65 Oe applied field. The complex magnetic interactions responsible for this reversal are revealed in the hysteresis curves.     

Critical behavior studies in Ti-substituted lanthanum bismuth perovskite manganites

Perovskite manganite La_0.4Bi_0.6Mn_1−xTi_xO₃ (x = 0.05 and 0.1) synthesized using conventional solid state route method give rise to critical phenomenon in their magnetic interactions due to the substitution of non magnetic Ti ions. The critical behavior is observed near paramagnetic–ferromagnetic transition and is studied by magnetization measurements. Various techniques like Modified Arrott plot, Kouvel–Fisher method, scaling equation of state analysis and the critical magnetization isotherm were used to analyze the magnetization data on magnetic phase transition. The values of critical exponents β and γ obtained using different techniques are in good agreement. The obtained critical exponents are found to follow scaling equation with the magnetization data scaled into two different curves below and above the transition temperature, T_C. This confirms that the critical exponents and T_C are reasonably accurate. The obtained critical exponents for both the samples deviates from mean-field model and do not completely follow the static long range ferromagnetic ordering. This behavior is consistent with non magnetic nature of Ti substituted at Mn site and can be associated with Griffiths phase like phenomenon.     

On the determination of the magnetic entropy change in materials with first-order transitions

An accurate method to determine the magnetic entropy change in materials with hysteretic first-order transitions is presented, which is needed to estimate their potential for applications. We have investigated the effect of the maximal entropy change derived from magnetization measurements performed in different measurement processes. The results show that the isothermal entropy change can be derived from the Maxwell relations even for samples with large thermal hysteresis. In the temperature region with hysteresis, overestimating the entropy change can be avoided by measuring the isothermal magnetization of the sample after it is cooled from the paramagnetic state to the measurement temperature. In this way the so-called peak effect is not observed as shown here for a few compounds.     

Chemical synthesis of self-assembled Ni nanoparticles and understanding of nonmagnetic layer inside their surface

To chemically synthesize mono-dispersed and self-assembled Ni nanoparticles, it was important to find the best combination of a Ni precursor and a ligand. Our Ni nanoparticles exhibited a face-centered cubic structure and superparamagnetism at room temperature. The value of saturation magnetization for our Ni nanoparticles was largely different from that of bulk Ni. Because of the relationship between the diameter and saturation magnetization per volume, the number of atoms composing the Ni nanoparticle was correlated with magnetization. This result indicated that a magnetic core/shell structure inside a Ni nanoparticle was produced. The nonmagnetic layer, as a magnetic shell of the core/shell structure, was created due to the low crystallinity of Ni nanoparticles and was composed of amorphous Ni‒O states. As a result, antiferromagnetic spins arrayed in the Ni‒O states were broken. Disordered spins were generated, which eventually decreased the total magnetization of the Ni nanoparticles.     

M(H) shape reconstruction using magnetic spectroscopy

Knowledge about the magnetization behavior M(H) is crucial for the use of magnetic materials in engineering applications. To date many systems exist that are able to measure the magnetization behavior, e.g. VSM, VCM, MOKE. In addition to their huge costs, complex and space-consuming measurement setup, large amount of preparatory work and restricted surface measurements are handicaps which restrict their field of application. Furthermore, the influence of additional physical quantities such as temperature, strain or pressure can only be investigated with great efforts. These influences are, however, of major importance in the development of magnetic sensor systems that are based on the change in magnetic properties.In this paper, a new measurement principle based on a frequency mixing technique is introduced for investigation of the shape of the magnetization curve of soft non-hysteretic magnetic materials. Based on the Taylor expansion of the magnetization curve and the spectral investigation of the inductively detected signal, a mathematical model for the reconstruction of M(H) is proposed. The model is both numerically and experimentally verified. It is shown that the magnetization curve of a nanocrystalline soft magnetic material used in this study can be reconstructed very accurately and the influence of an additional parameter, i.e. strain, can be investigated in detail as well.     

On the ability to determine intrinsic switching field distributions from hysteresis loops in the partially correlated magnetization reversal regime

In the present work we use computational analysis based on the interacting hysteron model to address the question in how far intrinsic microscopic materials information can be retrieved from magnetic hysteresis loop data. Specifically, the goal is to understand whether it is possible to determine the intrinsic switching field distribution if exchange and magneto-static interactions of variable strength are simultaneously present in the material. We find that due to an existing degeneracy of hysteresis data sets, it is generally not possible to separately determine contributions from exchange and magneto-static interactions, even if the magnetization reversal is only partially correlated. However, the intrinsic switching field distribution could always be accurately determined, as long as the system remains in the uncorrelated or partially correlated magnetization reversal regime.     

Magnetic response of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles in polymer matrix

We report the magnetic properties of magnetic nano-composite, consisting of different quantity of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in polymer matrix. The nanoparticles exhibited a typical magnetization blocking, which is sensitive on the variation of magnetic field, mode of zero-field-cooled/field-cooled experiments and particle quantity in the matrix. The samples with lower particle quantity showed an upturn of magnetization down to 5 K, whereas the blocking of magnetization dominates at lower temperatures as the particle quantity increases in the polymer. We examine such magnetic behaviour in terms of the competitive magnetic ordering between core and surface spins of nanoparticles, taking into account the effect of inter-particle (dipole-dipole) interactions on nanoparticle magnetic dynamics.     

The magnetic properties across the martensitic transition in the Co38Ni34Al28 alloy

The magnetic properties of the Co₃₈Ni₃₄Al₂₈ alloy have been studied. The alloy exhibits a first order austenite-martensite phase transition in the temperature region between 155 and 247 K. A strain of 0.07% is produced across this phase transition. The Arrott plots obtained from the isothermal magnetic field dependence of magnetization indicate the presence of spontaneous magnetization both in the austenite and martensite phases, confirming the ferromagnetic character of the alloy up to room temperature. The temperature dependence of the high field magnetization indicates the presence of spin wave excitations, spin wave excitation gap and spin wave-spin wave interactions in the martensite phase. The magnetic anisotropy energy constant for the Co₃₈Ni₃₄Al₂₈ alloy is estimated both with the help of the standard law of approach to saturation of magnetization, and also from the field dependence of magnetization using the field for technical saturation of magnetization. The temperature dependences of these energy terms are compared. The estimated values of the magnetic anisotropy constant seem to be in agreement with the magnitude of the spin wave excitation gap estimated from the temperature dependence of high field magnetization.     

On the effect of an elastic shear stress upon the magnetization of ferromagnetic sheets

When an elastic shear stress and a cyclical magnetic field, parallel to each other, are applied in the plane of a ferromagnetic sheet, magnetization changes perpendicular to the field are induced in the sample. “Transverse” hysteresis loops, i.e. transverse magnetization plotted as a function of the longitudinal field, were studied in various materials. The characteristic shape of the loop and the differences in sign and magnitude of the “transverse” magnetization have been qualitatively explained in terms of magnetic domain theory. Work supported by G.N.S.M. (CNR).     

Disorder induced negative magnetization in LaSrCoRuO6

This paper reports effect of thermally induced disorder on the magnetic properties of LaSrCoRuO₆ double perovskite. While the ordered sample is antiferromagnetic, the disordered sample exhibits negative values of magnetization measured in low applied fields. Isothermal magnetization on this sample shows hysteresis due to the presence of ferromagnetic interactions. Based on neutron diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) studies, these results have been interpreted to be due to disorder in site occupancy of Co and Ru leading to octahedral distortions and formation of Ru-O-Ru ferromagnetic linkages. Below 150 K these ferromagnetic Ru spins polarize the Co spins in a direction opposite to that of the applied field resulting in observed negative magnetization.     

Direct observation of magnetization reversal of epitaxial MnAs films

The magnetization reversal of MnAs epitaxial films on GaAs (0 0 1) substrates was investigated using a Kerr microscope. The direct observation of the change in domain structure under magnetic fields revealed characteristic magnetization reversal process of MnAs films with a ladder-type domain structure. The nucleus of the magnetization reversal region appears and propagates to neighboring α-MnAs lines, and then the ladder-type structures cover all over the surface. Finally the domain wall displacement occurs to expand the domain. The change in magnetic domain reflects the characteristic ridge/groove structures of MnAs films.     

Magnetization curves of randomly oriented ferromagnetic single-domain nanoparticles with combined symmetry of magnetic anisotropy

The magnetization curves of randomly oriented nanoparticles with combined symmetry of magnetic anisotropy were studied. The composite mode of the Stoner–Wolfarth model has been used. In terms of this model each nanoparticle is characterized by random cubic crystalline magnetic anisotropy and by random uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. The series of simulated magnetization curves have been obtained. Each curve corresponds to different contributions of cubic and uniaxial magnetic anisotropy energy to the full energy of an individual nanoparticle k_u. Within this series we discuss the values of remnant magnetization, coercive force, both initial and maximal susceptibilities as the function of k_u. It is found that the magnetic properties are not monotonous functions of k_u. We discuss the possibility of comparing the calculated magnetization curves with the experimental curves in order to obtain new information on the magnetic constant.     

Shape and thickness effects on the magnetization reversal of Py/Cu/Co nanostructures

We present an experimental investigation of the magnetization reversal process in NiFe/Cu(10 nm)/Co circular and elliptical nano-elements with different thickness of the magnetic layers. The results obtained using element sensitive X-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS) were compared with the previous measurements showing that the dipolar interlayer coupling favours the antiparallel alignment of the two magnetization layers at remanance. In the case of circular shape, the increased thickness of the ferromagnetic layers stabilizes the antiparallel alignment of the layers over a wider field range. A similar effect, accompanied by a delay in the onset of the antiparallel alignment, is observed in the case of elliptical nano-elements and applying the external field along the longer axis of the elements, due to the additional shape anisotropy.     

应变作用下EuTiO3材料磁性的格林函数理论研究

基于自旋波和格林函数理论,研究了低温下二维应变诱导的EuTiO3在铁电四方相下的磁性性质,主要讨论了在铁电四方相下Eu离子在铁磁性和反铁磁性有序时系统沿不同高对称性方向的自旋波散射和磁化。我们发现施加外加应变不仅可改变晶格结构的对称性,还可以通过改变电子自旋之间的交换耦合作用,进而改变该材料的磁性散射和磁化等。     

应变作用下EuTiO_3材料磁性的格林函数理论研究

基于自旋波和格林函数理论,研究了低温下二维应变诱导的EuTiO_3在铁电四方相下的磁性性质,主要讨论了在铁电四方相下Eu离子在铁磁性和反铁磁性有序时系统沿不同高对称性方向的自旋波散射和磁化.我们发现施加外加应变不仅可改变晶格结构的对称性,还可以通过改变电子自旋之间的交换耦合作用,进而改变该材料的磁性散射和磁化等.