Correlation between perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and microstructure in TbFeCo and TbFeCo–SiO₂films

Abstract

Both TbFeCo and TbFeCo-SiO 2 films were prepared by magnetron sputtering. At a film thickness of less than 75 nm, TbFeCo-SiO 2 films have coercivity and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy larger than those of TbFeCo films and vice versa at a film thickness of more than 75 nm. This phenomenon can be attributed to enhancement in the degree of preferred orientation of TbFeCo grains. For these two series of samples, the magnetization reversal process is accompanied by the combination of pinned domain wall motion (DWM) and domain rotation. The weak pinning of DWM cannot be excluded.

Shaping nanoscale magnetic domain memory in exchange-coupled ferromagnets by field cooling

“…Although studies of PMA media are generally based on macroscopic magnetometry observations 13 14 , a microscopic view of the magnetic properties, which can be obtained via magnetic microscopy 15 16 17 18 and X-ray scattering 19 20 21 22 , is often lacking. We present here a unique coherent X-ray magnetic correlation study, mapping out nanoscale magnetic memory phenomena in exchange-biased PMA multilayers throughout their magnetization process.…”

Strain-induced enhancement of coercivity in amorphous TbFeCo films

“…The domain width was proportional to (tK U ) 1/2 , where K U is perpendicular anisotropy and t is film thickness. 13 The coercive field is usually associated with the magnetization reversal process, and various effects on the reversal process can be linked to the dimensionality of magnetic wires, particularly in crystalline L1 0 FePt as recently reported. 14,15 It has been reported that the coercivity of FePt nanowires was increased in narrow Hall bars with the width less than 100 nm thanks to the changes in the nucleation and propagation of magnetic domains.…”

Asymmetric field dependence of magnetoresistance in magnetic films

“…The model was used to explain the odd in field longitudinal voltage peaks in a specially designed Co-Pt multilayer film with a single DW gradually propagating along the sample. However, the effect was also observed in other samples with multiple domains, 6,8 and the applicability of the "single wall" model in this general case is dubious.…”