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Simulations of ferromagnetic nano structures

Simulations of ferromagnetic nano structures
Simulations of ferromagnetic nano structures
The magnetic properties of nanometre-scale structures are of fundamental scientific interest and have the potential to play a major role in future data storage technologies. In particular, arrays of small magnetic elements, also called bit-patterned media, are one of the most promising candidates for the future generation of data storage devices. In this thesis we study potential bit patterned element geometries which are below 1micrometre in size. Their magnetic behaviour is hard to predict using analytical methods and computer simulations are the principal tool for in-depth analysis. The relevant micromagnetic equations are solved using the combined Finite Element/Boundary Element method, and finite differences. Patterned media are (quasi) periodic arrangements of identical objects, with each object typically representing one bit. While one or some of these objects can be simulated with today’s simulation capabilities, the investigation of arrays with hundreds of objects requires novel simulation methods.To deal with such large arrays we introduce and evaluate the new “macro geometry” approach. In most real samples this is superior to using conventional periodic boundary conditions as it takes account of the macroscopic shape of the sample.The micromagnetic simulation package Nmag developed at Southampton has been extended to provide the macro geometry capabilities, and subsequently used to study demagnetising effects between the elements of triangular ring arrays. We find that in a square array of 50-nm size triangular elements these effects are governed by the first and second nearest neighbours and can be considered negligible when the spacing between the rings is larger than 30 nm. We also study the transport properties via the Anisotropic Magneto Resistance (AMR) signal of connected rings arrays using the multi-physics features of Nmag. The simulations use a self-consistent approach to determine the AMR values, a technique able to explain experimental AMR measurements of real structures. We also show how the spatially varying current distribution affects the computation of the AMR values and found that the uniform current model, sometimes used in the study of AMR effects, is a very inaccurate approximation and can easily lead to qualitatively wrong results.
Bordignon, Giuliano
eb3e7975-60d5-401e-9227-5c1bd7d0fcc3
Bordignon, Giuliano
eb3e7975-60d5-401e-9227-5c1bd7d0fcc3
Fangohr, Hans
9b7cfab9-d5dc-45dc-947c-2eba5c81a160
de Groot, Peter
9b7cfab9-d5dc-45dc-947c-2eba5c81a160

Bordignon, Giuliano (2008) Simulations of ferromagnetic nano structures. University of Southampton, School of Physics & Astronomy, Doctoral Thesis, 170pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

The magnetic properties of nanometre-scale structures are of fundamental scientific interest and have the potential to play a major role in future data storage technologies. In particular, arrays of small magnetic elements, also called bit-patterned media, are one of the most promising candidates for the future generation of data storage devices. In this thesis we study potential bit patterned element geometries which are below 1micrometre in size. Their magnetic behaviour is hard to predict using analytical methods and computer simulations are the principal tool for in-depth analysis. The relevant micromagnetic equations are solved using the combined Finite Element/Boundary Element method, and finite differences. Patterned media are (quasi) periodic arrangements of identical objects, with each object typically representing one bit. While one or some of these objects can be simulated with today’s simulation capabilities, the investigation of arrays with hundreds of objects requires novel simulation methods.To deal with such large arrays we introduce and evaluate the new “macro geometry” approach. In most real samples this is superior to using conventional periodic boundary conditions as it takes account of the macroscopic shape of the sample.The micromagnetic simulation package Nmag developed at Southampton has been extended to provide the macro geometry capabilities, and subsequently used to study demagnetising effects between the elements of triangular ring arrays. We find that in a square array of 50-nm size triangular elements these effects are governed by the first and second nearest neighbours and can be considered negligible when the spacing between the rings is larger than 30 nm. We also study the transport properties via the Anisotropic Magneto Resistance (AMR) signal of connected rings arrays using the multi-physics features of Nmag. The simulations use a self-consistent approach to determine the AMR values, a technique able to explain experimental AMR measurements of real structures. We also show how the spatially varying current distribution affects the computation of the AMR values and found that the uniform current model, sometimes used in the study of AMR effects, is a very inaccurate approximation and can easily lead to qualitatively wrong results.

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Published date: November 2008
Organisations: University of Southampton

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 65634
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/65634
PURE UUID: bc947b18-cd48-46d0-ab64-489a71016ac7
ORCID for Hans Fangohr: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5494-7193
ORCID for Peter de Groot: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5494-7193

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Mar 2009
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:43

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Contributors

Author: Giuliano Bordignon
Thesis advisor: Hans Fangohr ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Peter de Groot ORCID iD

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