Structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties of nanocrystalline face centered cubic Co70Cr30/Pt multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Co70Cr30 alloyed layers are combined with extremely thin Pt layers in order to produce novel face-centered-cubic multilayered films to be considered as a potential perpendicular magnetic recording medium. The films were grown on Si, glass and polyimide substrates by e-beam evaporation at a temperature slightly higher than room temperature. The multilayered structure of the films was verified by X-ray diffraction experiments. Plane-view transmission electron microscopy images have revealed the formation of very small grains in the range of 7-9 nm. Hysteresis loops as a function of temperature were recorded via the magneto-optic Kerr effect in the polar geometry configuration. The system exhibits perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, which enhances with decreasing temperature. Hysteresis loops with a squareness of 1 and a coercivity of 1.45 kOe were obtained at 10 K. Furthermore, complete magneto-optic spectra of the films are recorded, showing a strong magneto-optic enhancement in the ultraviolet region at around 4.5 eV.     

Effects of MgO and MgO/Pd seed-layers on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of CoPd thin films

We studied the effects of MgO and MgO/Pd seed-layers on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in co-sputtered CoPd films. CoPd films with the MgO seed-layer showed perpendicular magnetic properties that were superior to those with another after annealing. The loop squareness was unity, indicating strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, when the MgO seed-layer was thicker than 2 nm. We observed that the out-of-plane CoPd (111) texture was strongly developed, as well as the in-plane tensile stress in the CoPd films. The magnetoelastic anisotropy coming from a negative magnetostriction λ₁₁₁ under the in-plane tensile stress dominating over other anisotropies is likely responsible for creating such strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. In the case of the MgO/Pd seed-layer, the CoPd films showed mixed anisotropy having both in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy components after annealing. The appearance of the strong (100) texture of the CoPd films with the MgO/Pd seed-layer is believed to have caused the decrease in the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy that originated from the magnetoelastic anisotropy due to the additional contribution from the positive magnetostriction λ₁₀₀ but less contribution from the negative magnetostriction λ₁₁₁ when the CoPd films are under in-plane tensile stress.     

Double Hard Axes of Hysteresis Loop in Wide-Angle Obliquely Sputtered CoFeB Amorphous Films

Soft magnetic Co₄₀Fe₄₀B₂₀ films with different tilt angle were successfully deposited on silicon substrates by using oblique sputtering technique. Different oblique angles are achieved by controlling the position of samples. The corresponding static magnetic properties of these samples were then systematically investigated. Interestingly, with the oblique angle increasing from 38° to 55°, the MOKE hysteresis loop of the thin films displays a unique and special performance with double hard axes. Meanwhile, despite of the measurement magnetic field along PR or AR direction, both of the hysteresis loops have two-stage magnetization reversal that means there are two comparably strong anisotropies in the CoFeB films. Moreover, rotating samples from in-plane to out-of-plane, the hysteresis loops demonstrate the perpendicular anisotropy exist in CoFeB films. The cross-section SEM characterizations further verify that the residual field from the magnetic cylinder will strongly impact the microstructures of thin film.     

The shearing of perpendicular loop with columnar structure

The experimental results on the hysteresis loops of magnetic films with perpendicular anisotropy show that the loop is sheared. The shearing of the loops depends strongly on the thickness of the film. This phenomenon was never successfully explained with the particulate model. We use a simple three dimensional particulate model with an effective demagnetizing field to calculate the slope of the perpendicular loops. The calculated results are compared with the experimental results for the CoCr sputtered films. By considering different separation distance of the columns, good agreement is obtained between the calculations and the experimental data for the shearing of the loop.     

Amorphous Gd-Fe alloy films prepared by RF cosputtering technique

Amorphous GdxFe1-x(0 < x < 0.35) thin films were prepared by RF cosputtering using an iron target covered partially with small gadolinium pieces. The composition dependences of saturation magnetization, hysteresis curves, and domain structures were studied. Spark-like domains were observed when the magnetization was reversed from saturation. The uniaxial anisotropy was induced perpendicular to the film plane. The average value of the perpendicular uniaxial anisotropy constant Ku was about 2 × 10⁵erg/cm³. Ku, however, decreases as the saturation moment decreases in the vicinity of room temperature compensation. The stripe domain width was varied from 0.3 to 4 microns as the saturation moment decreased from 300 to 20 gauss. These magnetic properties of amorphous Gd-Fe sputtered films are similar to those of amorphous Gd-Co films.     

CEMs and Faraday rotation study of γ-Fe2O3- Fe3O4films obtained by a new pyrolisis technique

Thin film iron oxides prepared by a new pyrolisis technique are studied by means of CEM spectroscopy and Faraday rotation measurements. It is shown that Fe3O4spinel oxides are obtained when the deposition is performed under Ar atmosphere. These spinel-ferrite films present an important magnetization component perpendicular to the film plane. It is also shown that the Fe3O4films are converted to γ-Fe2O3by oxidation in air while retaining a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. We interpret this induced magnetic anisotropy as arising from a magnetoelastic coupling with the substrate. Faraday rotation hysteresis loops confirm the existence of a strong induced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in these films.     

Magnetic force microscopy on nanocrystalline Co films

Pioneer works in ultrathin magnetic films have shown perpendicular magnetic domains in the demagnetized state. The source of this perpendicular anisotropy is the interface anisotropy developed at the interface. Similar domains could be observed in tetragonally distorted ultrathin films due to the magnetoelastic anisotropy. On the other hand, single-crystalline hexagonal close packed (hcp) Co films when grown epitaxially with the c-axis oriented perpendicular to the film plane may show perpendicular stripe magnetic domains even up to a thickness of about 500 nm. In that case the source of perpendicular anisotropy was the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of bulk Co, which favors the c-axis. In this work, we have grown by radio frequency magnetron sputtering Co films in the thickness range 15-4500 nm. We have used various substrates, such as Corning glass, silicon and Al-foil. The substrate temperature was about 350 K. The films have been found by X-ray diffraction experiments to present various structures and textures depending on the preparation conditions, mainly the Ar-pressure and deposition rate. Stripe- and labyrinth-like domain configurations are observed in films textured along the c-axis, and in films with a mixture of hcp and fcc grains, repectively. Films which show mainly fcc or amorphous structure do not form perpendicular domains. The results are discussed with respect to magnetization loops.     

Correlation Between the Degradation of Perpendicular Anisotropy and the Double Hysteresis Behavior in [Pd/Co]$_{rm n}$/FeMn Exchange Biased Thin Films

We clearly detected double hysteresis by increasing Co layer thickness and decreasing the number of bilayers in perpendicular exchange biased [Pd(0.6)/Co$(t)$] $_{rm n}$/FeMn(11.6 nm) thin films. In-plane tensile stress calculations confirmed that the appearance of double hysteresis is closely related to the degradation of stress-induced perpendicular anisotropy in the [Pd/Co] multilayers. Furthermore, annealing at the magnetic field applied perpendicular to the film plane directly verified that the enhancement of thermally induced perpendicular anisotropy, $K_{rm eff-induced}$, in the [Pd/Co] multilayers is the main physical reason for removal of the double hysteresis. All our experimental and theoretical results demonstrated that perpendicular anisotropy is the dominant factor in controlling the double hysteresis behavior of perpendicularly magnetized [Pd/Co]$_{rm n}$/FeMn exchange biased thin films.      

Random Magnetic Anisotropy Studies in SmCo<Subscript>5</Subscript> Thin Films

SmCo₅ thin films with different thicknesses were prepared by electron beam evaporation on Kapton substrates. The out-of-plane hysteresis loops for different thicknesses reveal a maximum coercive field when the thickness is 15 nm. Using random magnetic anisotropy model, the thickness dependence of magnetic properties was studied in SmCo₅ nanocrystalline films and several fundamental magnetic parameters were extracted. We have determined the local magnetic anisotropy constant K ₁ which is found to increase with increasing film thickness except for t =?7 nm which is thought to arise from the structural imperfection of the SmCo₅ films.     

Co／Pt多层膜和CoxPt1—x（x≈0.25）合金膜的垂直磁各向异性

介绍了关于Ｃｏ／Ｐｔ多层膜和ＣｏｘＰｔ１－ｘ（ｘ≈０．２５）合金膜的垂直磁各向异性研究的情况。一般认为,Ｃｏ／Ｐｔ多层膜的垂直磁各向异性主要源于界面外沿膜面法向的平移对称性中断以及Ｃｏ与Ｐｔ的ｄ电子杂化。界面处的合金化和界面不平整地垂直磁各向异性是不利的。而应力对界面各向异性的影响尚不十分清楚。在具有垂直磁各向异性的ＣｏｘＰｔ１－ｘ合金膜中观察到了Ｃｏ的聚集,Ｃｏ轨道磁矩和Ｃｏ－Ｃｏ对数中向异性。     

Characterization of Bi-substituted Dysprosium Iron Garnet Films Prepared by Sol-gel Process

Bi-substituted dysprosium iron garnet films were prepared by sol-gel process, and were annealed for crystallization. The crystallographic structures of garnet films annealed at different temperatures were analyzed by XRD, the film annealed at 650℃ was polycrystalline garnet with no preferred orientation and no impurity crystalline phase. Magnetic and magneto-optical properties were investigated, the film had magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the film plane, and exhibited strong coercivity of 1100-1600 Oe and high squareness. These films had large figures of merit applicable to magneto-optic storage, with 2 deg. at λ=430 nm and 1.5 deg. at λ=520 nm respectively.     

Crystallographic structure and magnetic properties in L1(0) FePt thin films deposited at different temperature

The crystallographic structure and magnetic properties of L1(0) FePt thin films deposited at different substrate temperature were investigated systematically in present paper. The ordered L1(0) FePt thin film was developed when substrate temperature is higher than 300 degrees C. The ordering parameter S, the degree of tetragonality c/a, and the epitaxial quality of the films, increase with increasing substrate temperature. The squareness and coercivity in the direction perpendicular to the film increase as the substrate temperature is increased and the perpendicular anisotropy is developed when the substrate temperature is higher than 300 degrees C. The magnetic anisotropy Ku increases with increasing substrate temperature and it might be concluded that the magnetic anisotropy of ordered L1(0) FePt thin films mainly stems from the magnetocrystalline origin and also possibly due to pair ordering mechanism.     

Study on the structures and magnetic properties of Ni, Co-Al2O3 electrodeposited nanowire arrays

We report on the direct electrodeposition of nickel and cobalt nanowire arrays within the nanopores of ordered porous alumina films prepared by a two-step anodization. SEM and TEM images reveal that the pore arrays are regularly arranged throughout the alumina film. X-ray diffraction and TEM analysis show that the nickel and cobalt nanowires are single crystalline with highly preferential orientation. The aspect ratio of nanowires is over 300. M-H hysteresis loops determined by VSM indicate that the nanowire arrays obtained possess obvious magnetic anisotropy. Because of proper square ratio and coercivity the nanowire arrays of nickel seem to be more suitable candidates for perpendicular magnetic recording medium than those of cobalt.     

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     

Calculation of hysteresis loops in face-centered cubic thin films

A total energy equation for a single-crystalline face-centered cubic thin film with its close-packed (111) plane parallel to the film plane is used to calculate in-plane and out-of-plane hysteresis loops at various values of the cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant (K₁). In-plane loops show that the easy and hard axes are the <112> and <110> directions, respectively, and that the coercivities, which are nearly independent of the sign of K₁, are quite low over the K₁ values due to the small variation of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy during the field sweep. The out-of-plane loops are similarly shaped to those of typical thin films, except for the appearance of a small hysteresis loop near the origin, which is attributed to an irreversible magnetization jump from one easy axis to another in the (111) plane. The magnetic parameters such as K₁ are estimated by comparing the theoretical results for in-plane and out-of-plane hysteresis loops with the experimental results measured for an epitaxial Co thin film. The value of K₁ is estimated to be − 1.2 × 10⁶ erg/cm³, which is significantly higher than that of − 6×10⁵ erg/cm³ for bulk Co, but is in good agreement with the values of − 1.3 to − 1.6 × 10⁶ erg/cm³ reported for Co thin films.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of Permalloy filmssputtered by mixed Ar-N2 gases

The crystallographic and magnetic properties of 1-μm-thick Permalloy films sputtered by mixed argon and nitrogen gases have been investigated. These films are composed of (111) textured grains of face-centered cubic and (002) textured grains of body-centered tetragonal which are deformed from face-centered cubic. Adding nitrogen to argon gas increases the amount of (002) textured grains and lattice strain. The anisotropy field of these films is smaller than that of films sputtered by pure argon. The coercive force of films containing relatively large amounts of nitrogen increases with annealing. The coercive force of the annealed films is correlated with a change in the lattice constant of the face-centered cubic grains. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy of these grains is likely to be one of the causes of perpendicular anisotropy     

The behaviour of the galvanomagnetic properties of thin films of nickel deposited on liquid-helium-cooled sapphire substrates

We report measurements of the temperature variation of the Hall effect, magnetoresistance and resistivity of thin films of nickel deposited onto optically flat sapphire substrates at 4 K. The as-deposited films showed almost square hysteresis loops for the Hall voltage as a function of the applied field. The loops disappeared as the films were annealed to 500 K, the Hall voltage reverting to the normal shape expected for a thin ferromagnetic film orthogonal to an external magnetic field. The annealed films 4–20 nm thick gave magnetization values at high temperatures that were close to those expected for bulk nickel.     

应力生长FeCoSiB非晶薄膜的磁各向异性研究

采用应力生长方法，制备出受压应力和张应力作用的FeCoSiB非晶磁弹性薄膜，研究了薄膜中的应变大小对FeCoSiB薄膜的磁滞回线、剩磁、应力诱导各向异性场等磁特性的影响．结果表明，无应变薄膜在薄膜面内呈现各向同性，而有应变的薄膜呈现出明显的各向异性。张应力诱导的各向异性与应力方向平行，而压应力形成垂直于应力方向的磁各向异性。各向异性场随应变的增大而线性增大。     

Two-axis magnetisation analysis of epitaxial cobalt films

Cobalt films were grown by molecular beam epitaxy on CaF2 buffer layers on silicon. Due to unique properties of CaF2/Si(100) interface, the surface of CaF2 has grooves along [110] direction. Cobalt grown on it has in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with easy axis along the grooves. The dependence of remanence magnetisation and coercivity on azimuth angle (between the grooves and field) follows single domain model in the range from 0 to 80 degrees. For hysteresis loops of both parallel and perpendicular components of magnetisation, quantitative agreement was achieved within the model of coherent rotation with certain distribution of anisotropy energy over regions of the sample. Between 80 degrees and 90 degrees, the film splits into multiple domains.     

钡铁氧体垂直磁化膜磁各向异性研究

钡铁氧体垂直磁化膜可用作高密度磁记录介质。本文研究用低温ＲＦ磁控溅射法制备非晶薄膜，经晶化处理所得到的垂直磁化膜的饱和磁化强度Ｍｓ、矫顽力Ｈｃ及垂直磁各向异性常数Ｋｕｌ、Ｋｕ２与退火温度Ｔ的关系，并对所呈现出的变化规律作了简单解释。介绍了依据转矩曲线的形状来判断薄膜垂直性优劣的方法，从转矩曲线出发，探讨了影响薄膜磁各向异性的因素。