197Au Mössbauer study of Au/Ni and Au/Fe metallic superlattices

¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer measurements have been performed for Au/Ni and Au/Fe metallic superlattices at below 75 K. For Au/Ni superlattices, the area ratio in a spectrum between a superlattice component and that of the pure Au buffer layer has been determined at 25, 50 and 75 K. From the area ratios, it is found that the recoil-free fraction of Au in Au(10 Å)/Ni(10 Å) is larger than that of the bulk Au, suggesting the existence of the supermodulus effect in this superlattice. The¹⁹⁷Au Mössbauer spectrum obtained from Au(5 Å)/Fe(8 Å) is entirely magnetic at 16 K, suggesting the existence of a magnetic hyperfine interaction at¹⁹⁷Au nuclei through the transferred electron spin polarization.     

Magnetic properties of 57Fe/Ir(100) superlattices

Summary The synthesis of a new BCT Fe phase was performed in Fe/Ir(100) superlattices grown by MBE. Magnetic properties of⁵⁷Fe/Ir(100) superlattices with 4 ml Fe and variable Ir thickness (2–30 ?) are investigated by⁵⁷Fe conversion electron M?ssbauer spectroscopy in the 4.2–300 K temperature range. Two spectral components are evidence, related, respectively, to Fe atoms involved in the central part of the iron layers and at the interface between iron and iridium layers. The appearance of a high magnetic hyperfine splitting in the iron BCT structure above a volume threshold of 12 ?³ is evidenced. Marked differences are observed between the mean magnetic properties and the local ones suggesting strong relaxation effects. Paper presented at ICAME-95, Rimini, 10–16 September 1995.     

Search for ferromagnetism in ultrathin epitaxial films: Cr/Au(100), Cr/Cu(100), and Fe/Cu(100)

The surface magneto-optic Kerr effect (SMOKE) technique was used to search for ferromagnetism in monolayer-range films of Cr and Fe grown on Au(100) and Cu(100). The growth modes were characterized using low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy. The fcc structure of Cr could not be stabilized on Cu(100). Ferromagnetism was not observed for the Cr/Au(100) films at temperature above 100 K. Ferromagnetism also was not observed for fcc Fe/Cu(100) grown at room temperature; but for growth at >150°C, a ferromagnetic, metastable state was observed for the top layer of the Fe film, in the absence of bulk ferromagnetism. The ferromagnetic Fe/Au(100) system was used to establish the sensitivity of the approach.     

Chemisorption of Fe on Au-passivated Si（001） surface

The chemisorption of one monolayer of Fe atoms on a Au-passivated Si(001) surface is studied by using the self-consistent tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method. The Fe adatom chemisorption on an ideal Si(001) surface is also considered for comparison. The chemisorption energy and layer projected density of states for a monolayer of Fe atoms on Au-passivated Si(001) surface are calculated and compared with that of the Fe atoms on an ideal Si(001) surface. The charge transfer is investigated. It is found that the most stable position is at the fourfold hollow site for the adsorbed Fe atoms, which might sit below the Au surface. Therefore there will be a Au－Fe mixed layer at the Fe/Au－Si(100) interface. It is found that the adsorbed Fe atoms cannot sit below the Si surface, indicating that a buffer layer of Au atoms may hinder the intermixing of Fe atoms and Si atoms at the Fe/Au－Si(001) interface effectively, which is in agreement with the experimental results.     

Uniform magnetic properties for an ultrahigh-density lattice of noninteracting co nanostructures

We report on the magnetic properties of two-dimensional Co nanoparticles arranged in macroscopically phase-coherent superlattices created by self-assembly on Au(788). Our particles have a density of 26 Tera/in2 (1 Tera=10(12)), are monodomain, and have uniaxial out-of-plane anisotropy. The distribution of the magnetic anisotropy energies has a half width at half maximum of 17%, a factor of 2 more narrow than the best results reported for superlattices of three-dimensional nanoparticles. Our data show the absence of magnetic interactions between the particles. Co/Au(788) thus constitutes an ideal model system to explore the ultimate density limit of magnetic recording.     

Fe2O3/Au/Ag磁性核壳纳米粒子的制备及其SERS研究

本文介绍了一种制备多功能磁性Fe2O3/Au/Ag纳米粒子的简捷方法, 制备的粒子直径大约在100 nm左右, 采用UV-vis和SEM对该结构进行了表征。并通过调节硝酸银的用量, 制备了一系列具有不同壳层厚度和表面结构的多重核壳纳米粒子。以苯硫酚(TP)为探针分子, 研究了不同银壳厚度的磁性纳米粒子的表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)活性。结果表明随Ag:Au比例的不断增加, 其SERS活性呈现先增大后减小的趋势, 这与表面结构的改变有关。     

The Investigation of the Magnetic Properties of Metallic Multilayers by Angle Dependent Mössbauer Spectroscopy

Hyperfine Interactions - Hyperfine fields (hff) in Fe/V and Fe/Co superlattices have been investigated using angle dependent Mössbauer spectroscopy. Conversion electron Mössbauer (CEM)...     

First principles studies of Fe/Co superlattices and multilayers with bcc (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) orientations

The layer resolved magnetic moments and magnetic anisotropy energy of Fe/Co superlattices and multilayers with bcc (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) orientations obtained from first principles simulations are reported here. The magnetic moment of Fe atoms are found to depend on the geometry, coordination number and proximity to Co atoms, whereas that of Co remains almost constant in the superlattices and multilayers. Mixing of atoms at the interface resulted in enhanced Fe magnetic moment while that of Co is unaffected. The magnetic anisotropy energy in superlattices and multilayers are found to be larger than the corresponding values of bulk counterparts. Calculated easy axis of magnetization is in the plane for all superlattice compositions considered in the study, while that in multilayers, changes with crystalline orientation and thickness of Co layers.     

Transverse and lateral structure of the spin-flop phase in fe/cr antiferromagnetic superlattices

Direct evidence of the nonuniformly canted state of the spin-flop phase induced by a magnetic field applied to Fe/Cr(100) superlattices is obtained by polarized neutron reflectometry. It is unambiguously demonstrated that the magnetization of the alternating Fe layers is twisted through the multilayer stack proving a stable noncollinear configuration. The maximal tilt at the end layers progressively reduces towards the center of the multilayer. The set of tilt angles is deduced from a model-free data evaluation employing the supermatrix routine. Spin-flip off-specular scattering is determined by the in-plane magnetization fluctuations and is fitted by a theoretical model of domains.     

Brillouin light scattering from spin waves in magnetic layers and multilayers

We give an overview on our experimental and theoretical investigations of Brillouin light scattering in magnetic thin films, layered magnetic structures and superlattices. For epitaxial Fe(1 10) layers on W(1 10) the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic surface anisotropy constants are determined, and the influence of Pd overlayers on the surface anisotropies is studied. For Fe/Pd superlattices a magnetic polarization of the Pd at the interfaces is established and the interface anisotropy constant is determined. For second order Fe/Pd superlattices, formed by alternating two Fe/Pd bilayers with different repeat periods, the Brillouin spectrum is obtained and compared to calculations. In the case of magnetic/nonmagnetic multilayered structures we investigate theoretically the crossing regime between dipolar and exchange-dominated modes. For small spacer-layer thicknesses, interlayer exchange coupling shifts the spin-wave frequencies of all but the highest-frequency dipolar mode into the exchange-mode regime. In case of all-magnetic multilayered structures, such as Fe/Ni multilayers, a new type of propagating collective excitations arising from coupled exchange modes is predicted.     

Thermodynamic instability of Ag/Au and Cu/Pd metal superlattices

We show how the formation energies of A_pB_q superlattices with arbitrary periods p and q and layer orientation Ĝ can be predicted via a 'cluster expansion' technique, given the formation energies of short period structures from first-principles calculations. We predict both bulk and epitaxial energies as well as the energies of the fully intermixed (alloyed) superlattices. Applications to Ag/Au and Cu/Pd superlattices illustrate our method, as well as a global classification scheme for superlattice stability.     

Straindashinduced enhanced solubility of Au in epitaxial films of Fe

The presence of an Au surfactant overlayer allows the growth of high-quality Fe thin layers on Au(100) at 420 K to a depth of at least 70 Å. The surfactant layer can be removed from the surface by gentle ion sputtering. After this removal, Au is still found within the Fe film, as judged by a 0.3 eV shift to lower binding energies of the Au 4f photoemission peak. Quantification of the XPS signal indicates that the total atomic concentration of Au diluted within the Fe layer is ∼3%, i.e. much higher than the bulk solubility at 420 K. We suggest that relaxation of the strain causes the enhanced solubility of Au in the Fe layer.     

Effect of vacancies on the spin density waves onset in Fe/Cr superlattices

The spin density wave’s onset in Cr based superlattices is considered within proximity of Fe interlayer boundaries and the effect of randomly located vacancies in Cr monolayers is examined. The study is performed for Fe/Cr, Fe/Cr/V superlattices with odd and even number of Cr monolayers. It is shown that the number of Cr monolayer determines the spin density wave’s nodes onset in the perfect Fe/Cr super lattices. Pinning of Cr magnetic moments on vacancies destroys this determination and leads to appearance or disappearance of nodes.     

Ultrathin film magnetic research at the Naval Research Laboratory

Scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory have been using molecular beam epitaxy techniques to grow a variety of high quality magnetic transition metal (TM) films and superlattices having TM thicknesses in the 1–10 monolayer regime. The magnetic and structural properties of these samples have been studied with a wide variety of standard and spin-sensitive techniques, both in vacuo and, when suitably protected, in air. The magnetic behavior of the materials is strongly modified as the TM layers become ultrathin. This work is illustrated with examples involving ultrathin Fe layers on Ag(001), Fe/Ag(001) superlattices containing ultrathin Fe layers, and bcc Co on GaAs(110).     

Ab initio calculations of interfacial magnetism in Fe/Mo superlattices

Ab initio calculations have been performed on Fe/Mo(1 0 0) superlattices in order to study the interfacial magnetic properties and layer thickness effect on the magnetic moments. In most cases, the magnetic moments of interfacial Fe monolayers are always smaller than those of the inner layers, and the induced magnetic moments of interfacial Mo monolayers oriented in the opposite direction. Calculation results show that the Fe layers are ferromagnetic when n = 3. As the thickness of the Mo layers increases, the influence of the Mo layer increases and the magnetic state of the Fe layer gradually changes into an antiferromagnetic or non-magnetic state. The change of magnetic moments of Fe/Mo superlattices is in agreement with the experimentally observed oscillation periods.     

Spin pumping at the magnetic insulator (YIG)/normal metal (Au) interfaces

Spin injection across the ferrimagnetic insulator (YIG)/normal metal (Au) interface was studied by ferromagnetic resonance. The spin mixing conductance was determined by comparing the Gilbert damping in bare YIG films with those covered by a Au/Fe/Au structure. The Fe layer in Au/Fe/Au acted as a spin sink as displayed by an increased Gilbert damping parameter α compared to that in the bare YIG. In particular, for the 9.0 nm YIG/2.0 nm Au/4.3 nm Fe/6.1 nm Au structure, the YIG and Fe films were coupled by an interlayer exchange coupling, and the exchange coupled YIG exhibited an increased Gilbert damping compared to the bare YIG. This relationship between static and dynamic coupling provides direct evidence for spin pumping. The transfer of spin momentum across the YIG interface is surprisingly efficient with the spin mixing conductance g(↑↓) ? 1.2 × 10(14) cm(-2).     

Finite-temperature magnetism of thin Ni films in sandwiches of Cu

The finite-temperature magnetism of thin Ni films sandwiched in Cu(001) layers, is discussed with the use of the itinerant-electron theory including the effect of spin fluctuations by means of the functional-integral method within the static and single-site approximations. The spatial- and temperature-dependent magnetization and the Curie temperature are computed by varying the Ni-film thickness from one to ten layers. The calculated results are discussed with reference to the recent experiments on Cu/Ni/Cu and Au/Ni/Au sandwiches and on compositionally modulated Ni-Cu superlattices.     

Ferromagnetic order and critical behavior at surfaces of ultrathin epitaxial films

The critical behavior, ferromagnetic order and magnetic anisotropies of ultrathin, epitaxial, magnetic films is studied using electron capture spectroscopy (ECS), which is capable of probing the long-ranged and short-ranged electron spin polarization (ESP) at the topmost surface layer of uncoated and coated magnetic structures. For all systems [Ni(100)/Cu(100), Ni(100)/NaCl(100), fcc Fe(111)/Cu(111), Fe(100)/Ag(100), Tb/Fe(100)/Ag(100), Fe(100)/Au(100), hcp Tb(0001)/W(110), Fe(110)/W(110), V(100)/Ag(100), Pd(100)/Ag(100), Pd/W(110)] investigated so far, ferromagnetic order is detected. It is found that the surface Curie temperatureT _Cs depends on film thicknessd. ECS data obtained at the surface of various systems reveal the existence ofT- andd-dependent magnetic anisotropies. Although for V(100)/Ag(100) the measured critical exponent=0.128 agrees very well with=1/8 predicted for the two-dimensional Ising model, for other systems, such as Fe(100)/Au(100), the measured value (0.25) is in disagreement with theoretical predictions. The experimental results are discussed within the framework of presently available experimental and theoretical data.     

Current-in-plane giant magnetoresistance: The effect of interface roughness and spin-depolarization due to the proximity of a buffer layer

We report on proximity effects of a Au buffer layer on the current-in-plane giant magnetoresistance effect (CIP-GMR) in high-quality, epitaxial Fe/Cr/Fe(001) trilayers. The lower Fe layer is grown in the shape of a wedge and allows simultaneous preparation of 24 GMR stripe-elements with different lower Fe thicknesses in the range from 13 to 14.5 ML. The layer-by-layer growth mode in combination with the small thickness variation gives rise to: (i) well-controlled roughness changes from stripe to stripe as confirmed by reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), and (ii) to a varying influence of the underlying Au buffer. The oscillatory roughness variation along the wedge yields an oscillatory GMR behavior as a function of Fe thickness and confirms the previous result that slightly increased interface roughness causes a higher GMR ratio. The proximity of the Au buffer to the GMR trilayer results in an increase of the GMR ratio with increasing Fe thickness. The latter effect is explained by spin-depolarization at the Fe/Au interface and in the bulk of the Au buffer.     

Formation of multifunctional Fe_3O_4/Au composite nanoparticles for dual-mode MR/CT imaging applications

Recent advances with iron oxide/gold(Fe3O4/Au) composite nanoparticles(CNPs) in dual-modality magnetic resonance(MR) and computed tomography(CT) imaging applications are reviewed. The synthesis and assembly of "dumbbelllike" and "core/shell" Fe3O4/Au CNPs is introduced. Potential applications of some developed Fe3O4/Au CNPs as contrast agents for dual-mode MR/CT imaging applications are described in detail.