Structure and magnetization reversal mechanism in L10 FePt films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

A series of L1₀ Fe₆₃Pt₃₇ films with controlled thickness (t_FM) were deposited on MgO(100) substrates for microstructure and magnetization reversal mechanism study. X-ray diffraction measurements show that face-centered tetragonal (200) peak also exists in addition to face-centered tetragonal (002) one, and becomes weak for thick films. High resolution electron microscopy study reveals the existence of periodic misfit dislocations at the FePt/MgO interface and other types of defects such as twins and antiphase boundary inside the film. Out-of-plane initial magnetization shows a slow increase responding to the external magnetic field and then follows a steep increase. The out-of-plane coercivity H_C at room temperature decreases with increasing t_FM and increases when the angle θ_H between the external magnetic field and the film normal direction increases. H_C at θ_H = 0 changes as a linear function of temperature for individual samples and the slope decreases with increasing t_FM. In addition, magnetic viscosity measurements show that the fluctuation field at room temperature decreases with increasing t_FM. These phenomena indicate that the magnetization reversal in the L1₀ FePt films should be realized by the motion of weakly pinned domain wall and thus governed by the thermal activation model. The magnetization reversal thermal activation volume and corresponding energy increase with increasing t_FM, as a result of the interactions between domain walls and structural defects can be attributed to the sample microstructural characteristic evolution with t_FM.     

Electrical Spin Injection in Perpendicular Magnetized FePt/MgO/GaAs Heterostructures at Room Temperature

We report zero-magnetic-field spin injection from FePt into GaAs at room temperature using FePt/MgO/GaAs-based light-emitting diode heterostructures. Experiments are performed on two samples with different compositions; Fe₆₁Pt₃₉ and Fe₅₇Pt₄₃. The polarizations of injected electrons at 0 T for these two samples are at least 1.5% and 3.3%, respectively. The higher zero-magnetic-field injected spin polarization is considered to be due to the better remanent perpendicular magnetization of the FePt layer in the sample with Fe₅₇Pt₄₃.     

交换耦合软/硬磁双层膜体系磁动力学性质的研究

基于Laudau-Lifshitzt方程,在一维原子链模型的框架内研究了交换耦合软/硬磁双层膜体系的磁动力学性质,得到了软磁层在磁反转前处于一致磁结构和交换弹性磁反转过程中处于螺旋磁结构时的本征自旋波模式的频率及其空间分布特点,以及自旋波色散关系曲线。研究表明,软磁层的反磁化机制与自旋波的软模现象有密切关系,一阶自旋波模式的软化诱导了软磁层的磁反转,且磁反转的形式与一阶自旋波模式的空间分布状态相关。由磁动力学方法得到的磁反转临界场与近似的解析解得到的结果一致。     

Diffusion induced columnar structure, high perpendicular anisotropy and low transformation temperature in thick FePt films

Thick FePt films (800 nm) were deposited by electroplating using Ag electrode. 2 at.% Ag doping into the electrolyte can lead to a columnar structure after annealing. The annealed film shows a high coercivity and perpendicular anisotropy. The additive of Ag can also significantly reduce fct-phase ordering temperature to 400 °C, comparing with an ordering temperature of 700 °C without Ag doping. The diffusion from Ag electrode and dopant is attributed to the formation of columnar structure, perpendicular anisotropy and reduced ordering temperature.     

Ultrafast heating effect on transient magnetic properties of L10-FePt thin films with perpendicular anisotropy

Laser-induced ultrafast magnetization dynamics and transient coercivity behavior in perpendicular magnetized L1₀-FePt films are investigated using the time-resolved polar magneto-optical Kerr technique. The magnetization after photo-excitation shows a dramatic reduction on the picosecond time scale. In contrast, the coercivity shows a weak decrease, accompanied by a skewed Kerr loop shape for low and intermediate fluences. The results can be interpreted by the laser-induced non-uniform demagnetization due to the weakened coupling between FePt grains of different size and/or components. The remaining coercivity vanishes when the film is fully demagnetized at higher fluence. We claim that the remaining coercivity can be manipulated by employing appropriate laser energy and film thickness, which may be helpful for application in heat-assisted magnetic recording.     

L10 ordered FePt based double-layered perpendicular recording media with (002) oriented FeCo films as a soft magnetic underlayer

The introduction of the soft magnetic underlayer (SUL) in perpendicular recording technology is to further increase the recording areal density. However, problems such as growth of the uncontrollable recording layer and additional media noise contributed from the SUL could be resulted. In this work, a synthetic antiferromagnetically (SAF) coupled (002) oriented Fe₆₅Co₃₅ film as an SUL was developed for L1₀ ordered FePt based double-layered recording media. The crystallography of hetero-epitaxially grown double-layered media CrRu/(Ru/FeCo)₂/Pt/FePt/Ru was demonstrated. The L1₀ ordered FePt based double-layered perpendicular recording media with SAF coupled FeCo films as the SUL were developed.     

Tunable coercivity in perpendicular (CoFe/Tb)n/CoFe multilayers

Magnetic coercivity and anisotropy have been investigated in amorphous Co₅₀Fe₅₀t/Tb t multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy. The thin CoFe layer does not crystallize when sandwiched between Tb layers. The saturation magnetization M_s (~ 10⁶ A/m) and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant K_u (~ 10⁵ J/m³) combined with low coercivity μ₀H_c (10-10² mT) have been obtained. These magnetic properties can be tuned. These amorphous multilayers could be designed to suit specific spintronic applications.     

Effect of a NiO capping layer on the temperature dependence of the interlayer coupling in Co/Pt multilayer with perpendicular anisotropy

The effect of an ultra thin NiO(11 Å) capping layer on the temperature dependence of the interlayer coupling of a [Pt(26.5 Å)/Co(4 Å)]₃ multilayer with perpendicular anisotropy has been investigated. In the presence of the NiO(11 Å) capping layer, the interlayer coupling between the Co layers has been observed to demonstrate interesting temperature-dependent transitions. Only the antiferromagnetic (AF) interlayer coupling exists at T ≥ 270 K. With the decrease of temperature, the coexistence of ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling is observed in the temperature range of 220 K ≤ T≤ 270 K. When the temperature is lower than 220 K, only the ferromagnetic interlayer coupling exists. The temperature-dependent polarization of the Pt layers can be one of the origins for the observed AF-to-FM transitions.     

Investigations on the interlayer coupling in Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy via the extraordinary Hall effect

The interlayer coupling in Co/Pt multilayers has been investigated via the measurements of extraordinary Hall effect. In the conventional [Co/Pt]_n multilayer, the coercivity H_C has been observed to increase exponentially for n < 6 and almost linearly for n > 6 with the decrease of temperature. Surprisingly, H_C for n = 1 shows the fastest increase at low temperatures, and becomes the largest one at T < 40 K. As a function of the repetition number n, the almost temperature-independent oscillation of H_C has been observed, being indicative of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida type ferromagnetic interlayer coupling in the [Co/Pt]_n multilayer. However, the antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling can be realized via the spin-valve configuration of the Co/Pt multilayer. In the Co/Pt/[Co/Pt]_n multilayer, the antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition of the interlayer coupling has been observed at low temperatures. These observed phenomena are strongly related to the temperature-dependent polarization in the Co/Pt multilayers.     

Fishtail magnetization in single crystal Tl2Ba2CuO6

We report extensive magnetization measurements on single crystals of Tl₂Ba₂CuO₆ superconductors. The fishtail magnetization is found to disappear above a characteristic temperature (60 K), which corresponds to a crossover temperature in the temperature dependence of the irreversibility line. Since the low temperature irreversibility field can be modeled by a Josephson coupled layered system, we propose that the fishtail magnetization in the Tl₂Ba₂CuO₆ system is due to dimensional crossover.     

DC magnetization studies in Nb/Fe superconducting multilayers

The behavior of superconducting transition temperature T_C in superconducting/ferromagnetic (S/F) multilayers as a function of different layer thicknesses and for varying magnetic moment μ_B of the F layer atoms is studied. Multilayer structures consist of five bilayers of constant superconducting Nb layer thickness of 400 Å and Fe of 6 and 24 Å each. The analysis of the magnetization data revealed that for t_Fe=6 Å, the Fe layer is non-magnetic. The interpretation of the observed T_C behavior is attributed to the change of the interaction of the cooper pairs with this layer at the onset of ferromagnetism for t_Fe=6 Å. The hysteresis curve recorded under isothermal conditions at 4.5 K for [Nb (400 Å)/Fe (6 Å)]₅ multilayers shows the usual M–H hysteresis behavior which is typical of a hard type-II superconductor exhibiting an irreversibility field H_irr of 3.5 kOe with substantial pinning at lower field. In addition, [Nb(400 Å)/Fe(6 Å)]₅ multilayer displays anomalous behavior in the form of paramagnetic peak in the superconducting state just below the transition temperature T_C=6.25 K.     

Film thickness dependence of microstructures and magnetic properties in single-layered FePt films by in-situ annealing

The FePt films with various thicknesses (t) of 5 to 50 nm are deposited on Si(100) substrate without any underlayer by in-situ annealing at substrate temperature (Ts) of 620 °C. A strong (001) texture of L1₀ FePt film is obtained and presents high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy as the film thickness increases to 30 nm. By further increasing the thickness to exceed 30 nm, the (111) orientation of L1₀ FePt is enhanced greatly, indicating that the quality of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy degrades when the thickness of the FePt film is greater than 30 nm. The single-layered FePt film with thickness of 30 nm by in-situ depositing at 620 °C shows good perpendicular magnetic properties (perpendicular coercivity of 1033 kA/m (13 kOe), saturation magnetization of 1.08 webers/m² and perpendicular squareness of 0.91, respectively), which reveal its significant potential for perpendicular magnetic recording media.     

CoFe/Cu/CoFe/IrMn自旋阀结构多层膜磁化反转过程的研究

通过高真空直流磁控溅射的方法制备了结构为//Ta(5nm)/Co75 Fe25(5nm)/Cu(2.5nm)/Co75Fe25(5nm)/Ir20 Mn80(12nm)/Ta(8nm)的顶钉扎自旋阀结构多层膜,研究了磁场循环次数、反向饱和场等待时间和磁场变化率对自旋阀结构多层膜磁化反转过程的影响.结果表明,磁场循环次数和反向饱和场等待时间对自由层的磁化反转过程没有影响,而在被钉扎层中出现了练习效应和时间效应;磁场变化率对被钉扎层和自由层的前、后支反转场的影响变化趋势相似,但反铁磁层对被钉扎层的反转有一定的影响.     

Tuning exchange spring effects in FePt/Fe(Co) magnetic bilayers

Structural and magnetic properties of exchange spring magnets consisting of hard magnetic (FePt) and soft magnetic (Fe and Co) bilayers, prepared by ion beam sputtering method are studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD), magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Thin tracer layers of ⁵⁷Fe were introduced in the soft layer in order to observe the Fe spin structure and interfacial diffusion by Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CEMS). The observed in-plane exchange spring behavior extends also to the magnetic hard layer, whose switching field can be tuned in an unexpected manner via the top soft magnetic layer. To explain the observed phenomenon it is suggested that the increased switching field, found in the system with a Co/Fe bilayer acting as a single soft magnetic layer, is compatible with a peculiar behavior of the stiffness coefficient of the heterogeneous soft magnetic layer. According to this observation, possibilities to maximize the exchange spring effects via suitably chosen non-homogeneous soft magnetic layers are open.     

The variation in electrical resistance with temperature for Bi/Ag bilayer films

The variation in the electrical resistance of vacuum-evaporated Bi/Ag bilayers with different layer thicknesses was studied as a function of temperature. A silver overlayer 50 Å thick increased the variation in R_T/R with temperature of the bismuth film (R_T is the resistance of the film at temperature T and R the resistance at room temperature). It increased the resistance of the film and made the temperature coefficient of resistance at room temperature more negative. In addition, the resistance minimum was shifted to higher temperatures. The variation in resistance with temperature is explained on the basis of the Kaidanov and Regal model. When the total thickness of the bilayer film was kept constant (approximately 1000 Å), the variation in resistance on annealing was dependent on the thickness of the silver layer. The rapid rise in resistance above 100 °C observed in films with silver layers between 100 and 600 Å thick is explained on the basis of diffusion at the interface and aggregation of the silver film on the surface. By controlling the thickness of the layers it is possible to keep the variation in resistance with temperature of the film to a minimum.     

Mechanisms of High Coercivity in Ni/NiO Composite Films by Post Annealing

A coercivity as large as 2.4 kOe has been achieved in the Ni/NiO composite film after an annealing under a magnetic field of 10 kOe and an O2 partial pressure of 0.001 torr. The coercivity was attributed to the strong exchange coupling of Ni and NiO. Small grain size of Ni and NiO was observed after the post-annealing. The enhanced coercivity is probably associated with the domain wall pinning by local energy minima, the distribution of Ni and NiO, and the domain structure in the interface of Ni/NiO generated under the presence of the magnetic field during the post-annealing.     

Large-scale synthesis of high-content Fe nanotubes/nanorings with high magnetization by H2 reduction process

High-content Fe hollow nanostructures from nanotubes (NTs) to nanorings (NRs) have been successfully fabricated by reduction of α-Fe₂O₃ hollow nanostructures at designated temperature. We investigated the influence of reduction condition on the structure and property of the products. With increasing reduction temperature, α-Fe₂O₃ with rhombohedral phase could be converted to cubic inverse spinel phase Fe₃O₄. Thereafter the phase was converted to the dominant cubic Fe preserving the same morphology. The highest M_s is 126 emu/g and 123 emu/g for 70 nm NRs and NTs reduced at 450 °C, respectively. Our results provide a general strategy of reducing single-crystalline α-Fe₂O₃ hollow nanostructures to get high magnetization which is required for many applications.     

(Fe,Ti) 16N2 films with high saturation magnetization prepared by facing target sputtering

(Fe,Ti)-N films with a Ti concentration of 10 at.% were prepared on Si(100) and NaCl substrates by facing targets sputtering. The effects of the nitrogen pressure (P_N) and the substrate temperature (T_s) on the formation of various (Fe,Ti)-N phases and their microstructures were investigated in detail. X-ray diffractometer and transmission electron microscope provided complete identification of the phases present in the films and the characterization of their microstructures. Films deposited at a lower P_N = 1 3 × 10⁻² Pa or a lower T_s = RT consist of mainly -phase. Films deposited at a higher P_N = 1.3 2 × 10⁻¹ Pa or a higher T_s = 200 °C contain a great many γ' and Fe₂N phases with a higher nitrogen content. When P_N = 4 7 × 10⁻² Pa and T_s = 100 150 °C, it is advantageous to the formation of ′' phase. These films exhibit a high saturation magnetization (M_s) up to the range of 2.3 2.5 T, which is larger than that of pure iron.     

The variation of 4πMs, Tcand Ga/Fe ratio with LPE growth temperature in bubble domain films

Magnetic bubble domain films of nominal composition EuEr2Ga0.7Fe4.3O12have been successfully grown on