Magnetic switching modes for exchange spring systems ErFe2/YFe2/DyFe2/YFe2 with competing anisotropies
Magnetic switching modes for exchange spring systems ErFe2/YFe2/DyFe2/YFe2 with competing anisotropies
The magnetization reversal processes of [10nm ErFe2/nYFe2/4nm DyFe2/nYFe2] multilayer films with a (110) growth axis and a variable YFe2 layer thickness n are investigated. The magnetically soft YFe2 compound acts as a separator between the hard rare earth (RE) ErFe2 and DyFe2 compounds, each of them bearing different temperature dependent magnetic anisotropy properties. Magnetic measurementsof a system with n = 20nm reveal the existence of three switching modes: an independent switching mode at low temperatures, an ErFe2 spin flop switching mode at medium high temperatures,and an YFe2 dominated switching mode at high temperatures. The measurements are in qualitative agreement with the findings of micromagnetic simulations which are used to illustrate the switching modes. Further simulations for a varied YFe2 layer thickness n ranging from 2 to 40nm are carried out. Quantitative criteria are defined to classify the reversal behavior, and the resultant switching modes are laid out in a map with regard to n and the temperature T. A new coupled switching mode emerges above a threshold temperature for samples with thin YFe2 separation layers as a consequence of the exchange coupling between the magnetically hard ErFe2 and DyFe2 layers. It reflects the increasing competition of the two conflicting anisotropies to dominate the magnetic switching states of both RE compounds under decreasing n.
exchange spring, rare-earth multilayer, multilayer, hard–soft multilayer
2499-2507
Zimmermann, Jürgen P.
9153a646-6cb4-40d7-99eb-9db4035e2b17
Martin, Kevin
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Bordignon, Giuliano
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Franchin, Matteo
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Ward, Roger C.C.
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Bowden, Graham J.
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de Groot, Peter A.J.
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Fangohr, Hans
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August 2009
Zimmermann, Jürgen P.
9153a646-6cb4-40d7-99eb-9db4035e2b17
Martin, Kevin
bcdaa1a0-a1dd-4bbe-be4c-ac1c76073a5f
Bordignon, Giuliano
eb3e7975-60d5-401e-9227-5c1bd7d0fcc3
Franchin, Matteo
9e00aaa2-959e-420f-854c-3b43aece85e3
Ward, Roger C.C.
a857fc98-1c51-48d1-ad7e-01151755b5ef
Bowden, Graham J.
f73a1c01-4d38-4170-bf30-9ebfa4283807
de Groot, Peter A.J.
98c21141-cf90-4e5c-8f2b-d2aae8efb84d
Fangohr, Hans
9b7cfab9-d5dc-45dc-947c-2eba5c81a160
Zimmermann, Jürgen P., Martin, Kevin, Bordignon, Giuliano, Franchin, Matteo, Ward, Roger C.C., Bowden, Graham J., de Groot, Peter A.J. and Fangohr, Hans
(2009)
Magnetic switching modes for exchange spring systems ErFe2/YFe2/DyFe2/YFe2 with competing anisotropies.
Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 321 (16), .
(doi:10.1016/j.jmmm.2009.03.024).
Abstract
The magnetization reversal processes of [10nm ErFe2/nYFe2/4nm DyFe2/nYFe2] multilayer films with a (110) growth axis and a variable YFe2 layer thickness n are investigated. The magnetically soft YFe2 compound acts as a separator between the hard rare earth (RE) ErFe2 and DyFe2 compounds, each of them bearing different temperature dependent magnetic anisotropy properties. Magnetic measurementsof a system with n = 20nm reveal the existence of three switching modes: an independent switching mode at low temperatures, an ErFe2 spin flop switching mode at medium high temperatures,and an YFe2 dominated switching mode at high temperatures. The measurements are in qualitative agreement with the findings of micromagnetic simulations which are used to illustrate the switching modes. Further simulations for a varied YFe2 layer thickness n ranging from 2 to 40nm are carried out. Quantitative criteria are defined to classify the reversal behavior, and the resultant switching modes are laid out in a map with regard to n and the temperature T. A new coupled switching mode emerges above a threshold temperature for samples with thin YFe2 separation layers as a consequence of the exchange coupling between the magnetically hard ErFe2 and DyFe2 layers. It reflects the increasing competition of the two conflicting anisotropies to dominate the magnetic switching states of both RE compounds under decreasing n.
Text
Zimmermann_etal_JMMM_321_2499_2009.pdf
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Published date: August 2009
Keywords:
exchange spring, rare-earth multilayer, multilayer, hard–soft multilayer
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 66657
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/66657
ISSN: 0304-8853
PURE UUID: c0f2482b-499e-4faf-ac1c-379372de10ad
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Date deposited: 07 Jul 2009
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:43
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Contributors
Author:
Jürgen P. Zimmermann
Author:
Kevin Martin
Author:
Giuliano Bordignon
Author:
Matteo Franchin
Author:
Roger C.C. Ward
Author:
Graham J. Bowden
Author:
Peter A.J. de Groot
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