Lateral magnetic inhomogeneities in Co-Cr layers detected by FMR

Co-Cr layers deposited on Ge underlayers were investigated with ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). The thickness of the Co-Cr layers and the substrate temperature (T_s) during deposition were varied. Measurements with a vibrating sample magnetometer showed that an increase of T_s results in an increase of both the bulk saturation magnetization M_s and the perpendicular coercivity H_c^⊥. The FMR spectra, obtained with the applied field perpendicular to the sample, showed two resonances for all layers. The effective anisotropy field is positive for both resonances. The difference in effective anisotropy field does not change with thickness of the layer, but increases with increasing T_s. From this it is clear that the two resonances are not due to magnetic inhomogeneities in the growth direction, but must be due to lateral magnetic inhomogeneities. Inhomogeneities in composition, resulting in different values of M _s, or in geometric structure, resulting in different values of the demagnetizing factor N_d, are the most probable causes of the observed effects     

Development of high-quality ceramic powders for Sr0.9Ca0.1Zn2-W type hexagonal ferrite for permanentmagnet devices

Fine ceramic powders of Sr_0.9Ca_0.1Zn₂ Fe₁₆O₂₇ (Sr_0.9Ca_0.1Zn ₂-W) ferrite, of almost single domain grain size ~1 μm, have been synthesized successfully by sintering for a few hours a mixture of SrCO₃, CaCO₃, ZnO, and α-Fe₂ O₃ in stoichiometric amounts at an effectively low temperature (T_s) of ~1100°C. Carbon dioxide evolves in the reaction Sr(Ca)CO₃+2ZnO+8 α-Fe₂D₃ &lrarr2;Sr(Ca)Zn₂Fe₁₆O₂+C₂ , making fine pores in the sample, which prevent large grain growth of the material and result in a very loose powder. The small ⩽10% substitution of Sr by Ca activates the reaction, but preserves the crystallization of the small-sized grains. This yields magnetic properties useful for most permanent magnet applications, with a promisingly high coercivity H_c~3650 Oe and saturation magnetization M_s~65 emu/g. A considerably better saturation magnetization M_s~85 emu/g can be obtained by sintering the samples at higher T_s~1300°C, but that results in a rather very low coercivity H_c~105 Oe     

Automatic technique for measuring the Polder resonance in ferritespheres

An automatic technique for measuring the parameters of Polder resonance in polycrystalline ferrite spheres is proposed. The diagonal elements of the external susceptibility tensor versus DC magnetic field are calculated from the changes in resonance frequency and unloaded Q factor of a microwave cavity by perturbation theory. From these diagonal elements, all the elements of the intrinsic permeability tensor can be obtained. By fitting the theoretical curves to experimental data, the parameters of Polder resonance, ΔH M_s, and the g factor, are simultaneously calculated. The whole measurement procedure is controlled by a desktop computer. An accuracy of 5% is obtained in ΔH and M _s, and of 0.1% in the g factor     

Effect of stress on the law of approach to saturation magnetizationin carbon steels

In high fields where the magnetization is approaching saturation, the resolved magnetic polarization I can be expressed by a power series of the inverse of external field H as: I=I_s-b/H ²-c/H³ . . ., or alternatively in terms of the reversible permeability μ_rev=1+(2b/H³+3c/H⁴+ . . .)/μ₀ where I_s is the spontaneous magnetic polarization and b, c, are constants. These equations express the law of approach to saturation magnetization. The coefficient b for a cubic crystal has been deduced as b=0.0762/I_s[K+1.5(λ₁₀₀-λ ₁₁₁)σ]², where σ is the applied stress and others are magnetic constants. The values of reversible permeability μ_rev under biasing field H were measured for carbon steels with applied stresses. The results showed that the square root of 2b changed linearly with the applied stress, The values of magnetic constant K andλ₁₀₀ -λ₁₁₁ were calculated, They agreed with the standard values, but were affected by chemical composition and heat treatment of materials, especially in λ₁₀₀-λ₁₁₁     

Cr migration in CoNiTa/Cr films by annealing

CoNiTa/Cr double-layered films for longitudinal magnetic recording media have been prepared by using the facing targets sputtering apparatus. Substrate heating and postannealing were performed in order to increase the coercive force H_c. While the as-deposited film at the substrate temperature T_s of 400°C had H_c of 780 Oe, the films deposited at T_s of room temperature, exposed to atmosphere, and annealed at 400°C, had H_c as high as 1700 Oe. It has been found that the same amount of Cr atoms migrated from the underlayer to the magnetic layer and the vicinity of the film surface. Consequently, such a large increase of H_c seemed to be caused by isolation of magnetic grains by Cr atoms in their boundaries     

Annealing behavior of magnetic anisotropy in CoNbZr films

The effect of magnetic and nonmagnetic annealing on the magnetic anisotropy in CoNbZr films, formed by a DC opposing-targets sputtering method, was investigated. It was revealed that the origin of the magnetic anisotropy is the directional ordering of the magnetic atoms. The anisotropy fields and the direction of the easy axis obtained when the films are annealed in zero magnetic field are almost the same as those for the magnetic field parallel to the easy axis of the as-deposited films. When the films are annealed in a magnetic field perpendicular to the easy axis, the anisotropy field induced in parallel with the magnetic field, H_k(t), is well represented by the following formula: ln {1-H_k(t )/H_k(∞)∝-√Tt, where H_k(∞) is the thermal equilibrium value of the anisotropy field and D is the diffusion constant. The activation energy of the as-deposited film is 0.86 eV. Annealing the film increases the activation energy which is 2.1 eV when the film is annealed at a temperature of 450°C for 2 h     

Ta additive effect on RF magnetron sputtered CoCr films

Magnetic properties for sputtered CoCrTa films (18 at.% Cr and 2.0-3.0 at.% Ta), which were deposited under various background pressures P_i, and argon sputtering pressures, P _Ar, have been examined. The perpendicular anisotropy field H_k for CoCrTa films maintains high values of 5-6 kOe in a wide range of P_i and P_Ar , as compared with that for CoCr films. In order to optimize Ta composition, magnetic properties and crystalline microstructures for Ta additive content (0-4.0 at.%) have been investigated. H_k and perpendicular coercivity H_c⊥ increase with increasing Ta concentration above 2.0 at.% Ta. C-axis orientation is improved by adding Ta to CoCr films. However, above 3.0 at.% Ta, H_c⊥ steeply decreases and domain wall motion is observed, owing to the increase in crystalline grain size. The appropriate Ta composition is 2.0-3.0 at.%     

Demagnetization processes and magnetic viscosity of amorphous FeTbfilms

The magnetic viscosity coefficient, S_V, of RF sputtered FeTb films was measured at fields between -5000 and +200 Oe at room temperature. The films, which are amorphous, have a perpendicular anisotropy and a typical stripe domain structure. S_V depends strongly on the demagnetization processes of the films, S _V of the domain-lengthening magnetization process being larger than that of the domain-widening process     

A measurement of the NBS electrical watt in SI units

The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) electric watt in SI units to be: W_NBS/W=K_W =1-(16.69±1.33) p.p.m. The uncertainty of 1.33 p.p.m. has the significance of a standard deviation and includes the best estimate of random and known or suspected systematic uncertainties. The mean time of the measurement is May 15, 1988. Combined with the measurement of the NBS ohm in SI units: Ω_NBS/Ω=K_Ω =1-(1.593±0.022) p.p.m., this leads to a Josephson frequency/voltage quotient of E_J=E₀[1+(7.94±0.67) p.p.m.] where E₀=483, 594 GHz/V     

Hard magnetic phase in rapidly quenched Zr-Co-B alloys

In order to identify a hard magnetic phase in rapidly quenched Zr-Co-B alloys and clarify its magnetic properties, Zr-Co-B ribbons, Zr-Co ribbons, and Zr-Co ingots were studied. The hard magnetic phase is interpreted as a Zr₂Co₁₁ intermetallic compound. This compound has a Curie temperature of 500°C and uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with an anisotropy field of 34 kOe. The magnetization of this compound was estimated to be 67 emu/g at 15 kOe. In addition to the hard magnetic phase, the low and high T_c phases appear in both binary and ternary alloys. The low T_c phase is FCC Zr₆Co₂₃ with T_c=180°C. The magnetization of Zr₆Co₂₃ was estimated to be 44 emu/g at 15 kOe. The high T_c phase is cobalt including a small amount of zirconium. In Zr-Co-B alloys, suitable boron addition is shown to enhance the coercive force. On the other hand, the addition increases the magnetization. While the boron addition produces cobalt, it reduces Zr₆Co₂₃ or quenches its ferromagnetism     

High coercivity in melt-spun SmFe10(Ti,M)2 ribbons (M=V/Cr/Mn/Mo)

Magnetic properties of SmFe₁₀(Ti,M)₂ melt-spun ribbons were studied, where M is V, Cr, Mn, and Mo. The ribbons (M=V/Cr/Mo) quenched at 20 m/s exhibit the high coercivities of 4.2-5.5 kOe. Annealing the ribbons quenched at 40 m/s enhances their coercivities in the range of 5.9-10.0 kOe. In particular, SmFe₁₀ (TiV) and SmFe₁₀(TiCr) ribbons yield coercivities of 10.0 kOe and 7.9 kOe, respectively. This is the highest value among the reported melt-spun ThMn₁₂-type structure ribbons. The importance of Sm atmosphere during annealing in minimizing the Sm evaporation from ribbons is also demonstrated     

NiTi substituted hexaferrites for magnetic recording

In order to obtain hexagonal ferrites with improved characteristics for application in the field of the magnetic recording, the ferrimagnetic Sr(NiTi)_x Fe_12-2xO₁₉ system is studied. Preliminary investigations suggested that NI is more effective than Co in reducing the magnetic anisotropy of hexaferrites. The system was analyzed as a function of the degree of substitution x and of the reaction temperature T_R and time τ. The reactivity of the mixtures and their magnetic characteristics (σ, H_c, H_A, T_c) were measured, and from the _χT(H) data it was possible to distinguish between single-domain or polydomain particles. The results are presented. The influence of the extraneous magnetic phases on the coercive field value was also studied and a preliminary investigation of the relation between coercive and anisotropy fields was carried out     

On the meaning of nonsinusoidal active currents

L.S. Czarnecki's (1985, 1987, 1988) orthogonal decomposition of nonsinusoidal currents is briefly discussed. The minimum property of Czarnecki's active currents in single-phase and three-phase nonsinusoidal circuits is discussed, using a Lagrangian multiplier approach. Czarnecki divided current, i, into three components: the active current i_a, the scattered current i _s, and the reactive current i_r. For three-phase four-line systems, several meanings of Czarnecki's active current i_a are given     

Magnetic properties of GdBa2Cu3O7crystals in high magnetic field

The magnetic properties of single crystals of GdBa₂Cu ₃O₇ were investigated in a magnetic field of up to 20 T applied parallel to the c axis in the 1.7-300 K temperature range. In the superconducting state, the field and temperature dependences of the critical current densities were deduced from the hysteresis of the half-cycle using Bean's critical state model. The Gd³⁺ paramagnetic moment was then studied. Above about 20 K, the M(H) isotherms were found to be given, at different temperatures, by the Brillouin function of the free Gd³⁺ ion. Below 20 K, the average magnetization does not obey the Brillouin law. The normal-state susceptibility was described by the free-ion Curie-Weiss law     

Grain size dependence of coercivity and permeability innanocrystalline ferromagnets

Amorphous ribbons of composition Fe_74.5-xCu_xNb₃Si_13.5B₉ (x=0, 1 at.%) have been annealed between about 500°C and 900°C. This produced a series of crystallized samples with grain sizes between about 10 nm and 300 nm and with coercivities H _c and initial permeabilities μ_i varying over several orders of magnitude. The best soft magnetic properties (H _c≈0.01 A/cm and μ_i≈80×10³ ) were observed for the smallest grain sized of about 10 nm. With increasing grain size D, coercivity steeply increases following a D⁶-power law (up to D≈50 nm). H_c then runs through a maximum of H_c≈30 A/cm and decreases again for grain sizes above 150 nm according to the well-known 1/D law for polycrystalline magnets. The initial permeability was found to vary in a similar manner, essentially being inversely proportional to coercivity. The variation of the soft magnetic properties with the average grain size is discussed and compared with the predictions of the random anisotropy model and other theories for the magnetization reversal     

Corrosion study in TbFeCoCr amorphous magneto-optical films

(Tb₂₀Fe₆₅Co₁₅)₉₄Cr ₆ film shows high corrosion resistance with good magnetooptical properties, H_c=4.9 kOe, &thetas;_k=0.3°, K_u=1.4×10⁶ erg/cm³ and T_c=230°C. Pit corrosion in 1N-NaCl aqueous solution and wet corrosion in 85°C and 85%RH atmosphere were studied for TbFeCo films with and without Cr addition. It is suggested that pit corrosion occurs by a chemical reaction between the anodic pit wall and the cathodic film surface, resulting in a piling up of corroded products inside the pits. On the other hand, wet corrosion in TbFeCo and TbFeCoCr films shows a bubble-chain-like morphology similar to conventional filiform corrosion observed in a coated film. This seems to take place by discontinuous movement of the anodic reaction area ahead of the bubbles     

Direct, fast, and accurate measurement of VTand K of an MOS transistor using a VT-siftcircuit

Based on a V_T-sift circuit, a new characterization technique is presented with which the value of both K, the transconductance constant, and V_T, the device threshold voltage, of an MOS transistor can be measured directly, obtained from the drain current of the device to be tested and the voltage difference between the output and input nodes of the V _T-sift circuit, respectively. The proposed method has been verified experimentally and compared advantageously with the commonly used linear regression technique in transistor characterization and wafer manufacturing. An additional application field of the V _T-sift circuit is temperature compensation of analog circuits     

Stress Induced Enhancement of Magnetization Reversal Process of DyFeCo Films With Perpendicular Magnetization

A method to control magnetization reversal in magnetic films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was demonstrated in this study. Alloys of rare earth-transition metals (RE-TM) with their extremely large anomalous Hall coefficient and relatively large magnetostriction constants were suitable to observe the stress induced anisotropy using anomalous Hall effect. Stress applied to the RE-TM thin films significantly reduced the perpendicular coercivity and nucleation field of the film in comparison with that of the film in stress-free condition. Dy_x(Fe₉₀Co₁₀)_1-x thin films revealed large Hall voltage and remarkable change in the coercivity under the mechanical tensile stress     

Fabrication of SmCo5 Double-Layered Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media

We fabricated SmCo₅ double-layered perpendicular magnetic recording media with high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy for realizing ultra high density recording. A double-layered medium with a Ru buffer layer introduced between a Cu/Ti intermediate layer and a Co-Zr-Nb soft magnetic underlayer exhibited high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, whereas that without the Ru buffer layer did not. Auger electron spectroscopy revealed that the Ru buffer layer inhibited interdiffusion between the Cu/Ti intermediate layer and the Co-Zr-Nb soft magnetic underlayer. We report here for the first time the read-write characteristics of SmCo₅ double-layered perpendicular magnetic recording media. The medium noise was small in the medium with a Sm-Co layer deposited under high Ar gas pressure owing to small magnetic clusters     

Hot-pressed Mn-Zn-Ni and Mn-Zn-Co ferrites for magnetic recordingheads

Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ substituted Mn-Zn ferrites have been developed as high-density magnetic recording materials by hot pressing using optimum sintering parameters. Ferrite series of the composition Mn_0.6Zn_0.4-xNi_xFe₂ O₄ and Mn_0.6Zn_0.4-yCo_yFe₂O₄ were prepared by the hot-pressing technique wherein x and y varied from 0.0 to 0.4 in steps of 0.05. It yielded ferrites with improved magnetic properties having higher hardness (⩾650 Vickers units), low porosity (<0.1%), and small grain size (≈10 μm). The initial permeability increased, whereas the coercive field decreased for an Ni²⁺ concentration x or a Co ²⁺ concentration y equal to 0.05. Maximum values of saturation magnetization equal to 4850 and 5250 G were obtained for x and y equal to 0.225 and 0.275, respectively. The Curie temperature increased appreciably, whereas the DC resistivity decreased for a larger substitution of Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions