Magnetic anisotropy manipulation and interfacial coupling in Sm₃Fe₅O₁₂ films and CoFe/Sm₃Fe₅O₁₂ heterostructures*

Abstract

The magnetic anisotropy manipulation in the Sm3Fe5O12 (SmIG) films and its effect on the interfacial spin coupling in the CoFe/SmIG heterostructures were studied carefully. By switching the orientation of the Gd3Ga5O12 substrates from (111) to (001), the magnetic anisotropy of obtained SmIG films shifts from in-plane to out-of-plane. Similar results can also be obtained in the films on Gd3Sc2Ga3O12 substrates, which identifies the universality of such orientation-induced magnetic anisotropy switching. Additionally, the interfacial spin coupling and magnetic anisotropy switching effect on the spin wave in CoFe/SmIG magnetic heterojunctions have also been explored by utilizing the time-resolved magneto–optical Kerr effect technique. It is intriguing to find that both the frequency and effective damping factor of spin precession in CoFe/SmIG heterojunctions can be manipulated by the magnetic anisotropy switching of SmIG films. These findings not only provide a route for the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy acquisition but also give a further path for spin manipulation in magnetic films and heterojunctions.