Structural and magnetic properties of Pt in Co/Pt multilayers

[Co(30 Å)/Pt(x Å)]₂₀ multilayers with the Pt layer thicknesses varying from 5 Å to 20 Å were characterized structurally by high angle X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetically by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. It is found that the structure and magnetic properties of Pt have a strong correlation with the Pt layer thickness. The 20 Å thickness Pt layer is not almost influenced by the adjacent Co layer and the nearest neighbors are dominated by Pt-Pt shells. With decreasing Pt layer thickness, the nearest neighbors are gradually dominated by Pt-Co shells and the Pt-Co intermixing regions also remarkable increase at the interfaces, especially for the 5 Å thickness Pt layer. The orbital and spin magnetic moments as well as the ratio m_orb/m_spin all decrease systematically with increasing Pt layer thickness, indicating that the interface atoms are polarized by direct Pt-Co hybridization, but that the adjacent layers are polarized by Pt-Pt interactions.     

Metal/insulator manganite multilayers

We have studied the transport and magnetic properties of strongly textured metal/insulator La_1−xSr_xMnO₃ (x=0.4,0.1) bilayers and trilayers, grown by DC magnetron sputtering over MgO and SrTiO₃ substrates. The multilayers present transport properties similar to those of the La_0.6Sr_0.4MnO₃ films, being very sensitive to deposition conditions. Magnetic multilayers show a metal–insulator transition around T_c (250 K) and colossal magnetoresistance which is maximum around T_c. No extrinsic magnetoresistance associated with the multilayered structure was observed, probably due to the presence of ferromagnetic coupling between the metallic layers, as suggested by magnetization measurements.     

Low frequency magnetic noise in epitaxial antiferromagnetically coupled Fe/Cr multilayers

For antiferromagnetically coupled epitaxial [Fe/Cr(001)]₁₀ multilayers we detected a strong enhancement of the magnetism-related electrical noise in the vicinity of the orientation transition between the easy and hard axes. Our measurements are performed at different temperatures and we also identified the noise caused by depinning of domain walls (DWs). We are able to detect and follow in real time the motion of rather extended (of the order of 100 μm) DWs by comparing the magnetic noise in the presence and absence of a DC transport current, respectively. The presence of large and small (<1 μm) DWs is confirmed by magnetic force microscopy images obtained at room temperature.     

Co/Ti金属磁性多层膜的激光布里渊散射研究(英文)

在室温下利用直流磁控溅射法制备出了具有不同Co层厚度的 [Co(dConm) /Ti(dTinm) ]n 金属磁性多层膜 (其中dCoanddTi是Co和Ti的厚度 ,n薄膜调制周期数 )。在 30 0K下用X射线衍射法 (XRD)和布里渊散射方法研究了Co层厚度分别为dCo=1 ,2 ,2 5 ,3 5nm ,Ti层厚度为dTi=2 5nm的Co/Ti多层膜。XRD的结果所示在Co/Ti多层膜中Co层厚度超过 2 5nm ,其结构类似块材Co的多晶结构。对比之下 ,Co/Ti多层膜中Co层厚度低于 2 5nm ,其XRD衍射峰随Co层厚度减少变的峰形加宽 ,衍射峰的强度减少 ,峰位移动和消失。在Co/Ti多层膜中自旋波的布里渊散射结果表明 :在Co/Ti多层膜中 ,对于dCo>2 5nm磁性呈铁磁性耦合 ,在dCo≤ 2 5nm时 ,其呈反铁磁性耦合。除表面自旋波外 ,在呈反铁磁性耦合的材料中观测到了两个有体特征的自旋波 ,而在呈铁磁耦合的材料中只观测到一个有体特征的自旋波。     

Effects of thermal annealing on structural and magnetic properties of thin Pt/Cr/Co multilayers

Thermal stability of thin Pt/Cr/Co multilayers and the subsequent changes in their structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties are reported. We observe CoCrPt ternary alloy phase formation due to annealing at temperatures about 773 K, which is accompanied by enhancement in the coercivity value. In addition, 360° domain wall superimposed on a monodomain like background has been observed in the pristine multilayer, which changes into a multidomain upon annealing at 873 K.     

Heat-induced effective exchange coupling in magnetic multilayers with semiconductors

Two ferromagnetic films separated by an amorphous semiconducting spacer layer are exchange coupled across the spacer. The coupling is reversibly temperature dependent with a positive temperature coefficient making such layered systems a 2-D realization of the concept of heat-induced magnetism. By studying ferromagentic Fe layers separated by amorphous Si, Ge, or ZnSe layers we explore the possibilities to generate such an effective exchange coupling and address the question of the mechanism responsible for it.     

Magnetization dynamics in thin films and multilayers

The behavior of spin waves is influenced by essentially all the parameters which characterize a magnetic material – exchange interactions, anisotropy, surface effects, dipolar interactions, phase transitions and imperfections. Thus measurements of spin wave frequencies can give important information on characterizing different magnetic materials and structures. In this paper we outline the major results and calculational methods for long-wavelength spin waves in thin films and multilayers. While the primary attention is on ferromagnet-based structures, long-wavelength spin waves in antiferromagnets are also discussed. We indicate how particular measurements of spin wave frequencies can be used to extract the fundamental parameters of the different structures.     

The effect of nonmagnetic defects on magnetic behavior for multilayers Ta/Co/Co3O4/Ta

The exchange bias field H_E was much higher for Ta/Co/Co₃O₄/Ta than Ta/Co/Co₃O₄, fabricated in a magnetron sputtering system under the same experimental conditions. The XPS analysis showed that Ta atoms of cap layer for Ta/Co/Co₃O₄/Ta diffused into Co₃O₄ layer and reduced Co₃O₄, and introduced some nonmagnetic defects into the AFM layer. The dilution of the AFM layer led to the formation of volume domains. We believed that the higher H_E for the multilayers Ta/Co/Co₃O₄/Ta was primarily attributed to the formation of volume domain due to some nonmagnetic defects in AFM layer.     

Giant magnetoresistance of Co/ITO multilayers

The electrical and magnetic properties of Co/ITO multilayers with various ITO layer thickness are studied. Negative giant magnetoresistance with a maximum of −1.9% at room temperature and −2.57% at 15 K are observed. The magnitudes of GMR oscillate with a period of about 1 nm when varying the thickness of ITO layer.     

Structural and magnetic properties of RF sputtered FePt/Fe multilayers

Series of [FePt(4min)/Fe(t_Fe)]₁₀ multilayers have been prepared by RF magnetron sputtering and post-annealing in order to optimize their magnetic properties by structural designs. The structure, surface morphology, composition and magnetic properties of the deposited films have been characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). It is found that after annealing at temperatures above 500 °C, FePt phase undergoes a phase transition from disordered FCC to ordered FCT structure, and becomes a hard magnetic phase. X-ray diffraction studies on the series of [FePt/Fe]_n multilayer with varying Fe layer thickness annealed at 500 and 600 °C show that lattice constants change with Fe layer thickness and annealing temperature. Both lattice constants a and c are smaller than those of standard ones, and lattice constant a decreases as Fe layer deposition time increases. Only a slight increase in grain size was observed as Fe layer decreased in samples annealed at 500 °C. However, the increase in grain size is large in samples annealed at 600 °C. The coercivities of [FePt/Fe]_n multilayers decrease with Fe layer deposition time, and the energy product (BH)_max reaches a maximum in the samples with Fe layer deposition time of 3 min. Comparison of magnetic properties with structure showed an almost linear relationship between the lattice constant a and the coercivities of the FePt phase.     

In-plane magnetic anisotropies in Ni/FeMn and Ni90Fe10/FeMn exchange biased bilayers

The in-plane magnetic anisotropy in Ni/FeMn and Ni₉₀Fe₁₀/FeMn exchange-biased bilayers prepared by co-evaporation under molecular beam epitaxy conditions is investigated employing longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). The exchange anisotropy was induced by a magnetic field cooling immediately after the deposition of the bilayers. Besides the induced term, the presence of an additional uniaxial anisotropy in the FM layers was detected both by MOKE and FMR, and the characteristic directions of these two anisotropy terms are not coincident. The interplay between the anisotropy contributions is discussed considering micromagnetic simulations and the in-plane resonance condition for different magnetic field orientation. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used to complement the characterization of the samples.     

PdMn/Co多层膜的磁性和磁光特性研究

用磁控溅射法制备了不同Mn含量的PdMn/Co磁性多层膜，通过x射线衍射对该多层膜系列进行结构分析；测定了不同Mn含量系列样品的磁滞回线、垂直各向异性及磁力显微镜图，分析了饱和磁化强度、磁畴和垂直各向异性变化的原因；通过测定该多层膜体系的克尔谱，简要分析了一定波长下克尔角随Mn含量增加而变化的物理机制. 关键词： 多层膜 磁性 磁光     

Characteristics of ZrC/ZrN and ZrC/TiN multilayers grown by pulsed laser deposition

ZrC/ZrN and ZrC/TiN multilayers were grown on (1 0 0) Si substrates at 300 °C by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique using a KrF excimer laser. X-ray diffraction investigations showed that films were crystalline, the strain and grain size depending on the nature and pressure of the gas used during deposition. The elemental composition, analyzed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), showed that films contained a low level of oxygen contamination. Simulations of the X-ray reflectivity (XRR) curves acquired from films indicated a smooth surface morphology, with roughness below 1 nm (rms) and densities very close to bulk values.Nanoindentation results showed that the ZrC/ZrN and ZrC/TiN multilayer samples exhibited hardness values between 30 and 33 GPa, slightly higher than the values of 28-30 GPa measured for pure ZrC, TiN and ZrN films.     

Thermal behaviour of Co/Si/W/Si multilayers under rapid thermal annealing

The e-beam deposited multilayers (MLS) were studied under rapid thermal annealing (RTA) between 250°C and 1000°C during 30 s. MLS with five Co/Si/W/Si periods, each 13.9 nm (MLS1) and 18 nm (MLS2) were deposited onto oxidized Si substrates. Samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, hard and soft X-ray reflectivity measurements and grazing incidence X-ray diffuse scattering. The MLS period, interface roughness and its lateral and vertical correlations were obtained by simulation of the hard X-ray reflectivity and diffuse scattering spectra. The MLS1 with thinner Co layers is more temperature resistant. However, its soft X-ray reflectivity is smaller. The results show that this is because of shorter lateral and vertical correlation lengths of the interface roughness which may considerably influence the X-ray reflectivity of multilayers.     

Perpendicular anisotropy and magneto-optical Kerr effect of (Ni/Pd) multilayers

Nickel film, with total thickness t_Ni in the range 1000-2000 Å, is known to exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), if the film has been deposited at room temperature. This phenomenon is due to the magneto-elastic (ME) effect. The same is also true for the (Ni/Pd)_n multilayers, where n is the period (n≥3). In this paper, we have made two kinds of multilayers: one, which does not have a Pd cap layer, belongs to the A-group, and the other, which has, belongs to the B-group. The polar Kerr rotation θ_k, the polar Kerr ellipticity ε_k, and the figure of merit (θ_k)²R, where R is the reflectance, were measured for the two wavelengths, i.e. λ=633 and 442 nm, respectively. The effective PMA energy K_⊥ was measured from the vibrating sample magnetometer. It was found that the most favorable multilayer for the magneto-optical (MO) application exists among the A-group samples: i.e. the t_Ni=1300 Å, t_Pd=50 Å (seed layer), and n=1 sample. We obtained θ_k=−9.76 min, ε_k=−9.13 min, (θ_k)²R=1.51 (rad)² at λ=442 nm, and K_⊥=3.21×10⁶ erg/cc for this optimal multilayer. Finally, the effects of the Pd seed layer on PMA and MO are also studied.     

High temperature annealing effect on structural and magnetic properties of Ti/Ni multilayers

High temperature annealing effect on structural and magnetic properties of Ti/Ni multilayer (ML) up to 600 °C have been studied and reported in this paper. Ti/Ni multilayer samples having constant layer thicknesses of 50 Å each are deposited on float glass and Si(1 1 1) substrates using electron-beam evaporation technique under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions at room temperatures. The micro-structural parameters and their evolution with temperature for as-deposited as well as annealed multilayer samples up to 600 °C in a step of 100 °C for 1 h are determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity techniques. The X-ray diffraction pattern recorded at 300 °C annealed multilayer sample shows interesting structural transformation (from crystalline to amorphous) because of the solid-state reaction (SSR) and subsequent re-crystallization at higher temperatures of annealing, particularly at ≥400 °C due to the formation of TiNi₃ and Ti₂Ni alloy phases. Sample quality and surface morphology are examined by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique for both as-deposited as well as annealed multilayer samples. In addition to this, a temperature dependent dc resistivity measurement is also used to study the structural transformation and subsequent alloy phase formation due to annealing treatment. The corresponding magnetization behavior of multilayer samples after each stage of annealing has been investigated by using Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE) technique and results are interpreted in terms of observed micro-structural changes.     

Ion induced modification in structural and magnetic properties of Pt/Cr/Co multilayers

This paper reports on the change in the magnetic and the structural properties of Pt/Cr/Co multilayers due to 1 MeV N⁺-ion irradiation at room temperature. We observe irradiation induced formation of the CoCrPt ternary alloy phase at a fluence of 1×10¹⁶ ions cm^?2. Phase formation is accompanied by an enhancement in the coercivity. The enhancement in the coercivity is attributed to inhomogeneous alloying and possible mixing-induced strain. These findings are explained in the light of ion beam induced recoil mixing and ionization events.     

Structure and magnetic properties of 300-nm-thick FePt films with Hf underlayer

Structure, microstructure, magnetic properties of 300-nm-thick FePt films with 10-nm-thick Hf underlayer have been studied. The experimental results showed that the very thin Hf underlayer could promote the ordering at reduced temperatures by facilitating the nucleation of the order phase, leading to refined grain size and magnetic domain size. Therefore, the permanent magnetic properties of FePt films were enhanced. (BH)_max and H_c of FePt films were greatly enhanced from 5.0–21.0 MGOe and 1.4–11.0 kOe for single layer to 10.2–23.6 MGOe and 4.5–13.2 kOe for Hf-underlayered films annealed in T_a region of 400–600 °C, respectively. Nevertheless, the severe interdiffusion between the Hf and FePt layers at T_a=800 °C resulted in the decreased S, coarsened surface morphology, grain and magnetic domain sizes, and therefore the slightly decreased (BH)_max to 18.0 MGOe.     

Phase-coherent current-driven magnons in magnetic multilayers

We report the detection of electromagnetic waves radiated by current-driven magnons in a Co/Cu magnetic multilayer. The magnons were excited by means of a high current density ≈10⁸ A/cm² injected into the multilayer through a point contact. The point contact itself was used as a high frequency mixer to mix electromagnetic waves radiated by the current-driven magnons with externally generated microwave radiation. Here the external microwaves are used as a direct probe of the high-frequency behavior and partial phase coherence of the current-induced excitations. When the external frequency equaled the frequency of the magnons generated in the multilayer a DC voltage was found to develop across the contact. Investigation of how this voltage varies with exciting current, magnetic field, and microwave frequency provides detailed information on the spectrum of the current-driven magnons. Our observations support the feasibility of a spin-wave maser, or spin-wave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.