Magnetic properties of mixed property magnetic thin films prepared by selective ion irradiation

The control of the magnetic properties like magnetic anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and especially the dynamic magnetic properties in ferromagnetic thin films are of significant importance for spintronics applications. For instance, the magnetic anisotropy, e.g. uniaxial anisotropy or unidirectional anisotropy, in ferromagnetic single or multi-layers is initialized by applying a magnetic field during film deposition or by a magnetic field anneal.
Here, we give an overview on novel ways of tailoring ferromagnetic thin film properties by ion irradiation. In addition, additional tuning is obtained by patterning the magnetic films in terms of laterally varying magnetic properties [1]. Results from different samples patterned in terms of anisotropy [1, 2, 3], exchange bias [1, 4], and saturation magnetization [5] are presented. The main emphasis of the investigations is on the role of magnetic domain formation and domain wall effects in stripe-like magnetic hybrid structures on the overall static and especially dynamic magnetic properties [6, 7].
The presented paths of ferromagnetic film preparation provide an additional degree of freedom for the tailoring of magnetic properties and functionality of soft-magnetic thin films