Magnetic anisotropies in ferromagnetic and exchange-coupled systems on rippled surfaces


Magnetic anisotropies in ferromagnetic and exchange-coupled systems on rippled surfaces

Liedke, M. O.; Liedke, B.; Marko, D.; Keller, A.; Muecklich, A.; Facsko, S.; Fassbender, J.; Cizmar, E.; Zvyagin, S.; Wosnitza, J.

The influence of a surface and interface modulation on the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials (Py, Fe and Co) and an exchange bias system (Py/FeMn) is studied. A periodic surface modulation (the so-called ripples) is achieved by low energy ion erosion. Subsequently the magnetic stack is deposited. Due to the film morphology a strong uniaxial anisotropy is induced in the ferromagnetic layers, which is fixed in its orientation along ripples elongation. In the case of the exchange bias system the direction of the induced unidirectional anisotropy can be varied by means of different field annealing cycles. For all mutual orientations both anisotropy contributions are superimposed independently. The angular dependence of the magnetization reversal behavior can be described perfectly by a coherent rotation model [1]. In addition, the magnitude of the uniaxial and the unidirectional anisotropy scales with the step density or wave length of the rippled substrate, which is in full agreement with theoretical predictions.

[1] M. O. Liedke et al., Phys. Rev. B 75, 220407(R) (2007)

Keywords: exchange bias; ripples; ion erosion; exchange coupling; Py; FeMn; Co; Fe; magnetic anisotropy

  • Lecture (Conference)
    72. Jahrestagung der DPG und DPG Frühjahrstagung des Arbeitskreises Festkörperphysik, 25.02.2008, Berlin, Germany

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-10781
Publ.-Id: 10781