Modification of Co/Pt multilayers by gallium irradiation - Part 1: The effect on structural and magnetic properties

Hyndman, R., Warin, P., Gierak, J., Ferre, J., Chapman, J.N., Jamet, J.P., Mathet, V. and Chappert, C. (2001) Modification of Co/Pt multilayers by gallium irradiation - Part 1: The effect on structural and magnetic properties. Journal of Applied Physics, 90(8), 3843 -3849. (doi: 10.1063/1.1401803)

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, optical, and magneto-optical microscopy have been used to study how structural and magnetic properties are changed when a Co/Pt multilayer is quasihomogeneously irradiated with Ga ions. Under low irradiation fluence, both grain size and texture in the multilayer increase. These effects continue for fluences in excess of 1 x 10(15) Ga ions/cm(2), but beyond this dose significant thinning of the multilayer is also observed. Three distinct irradiation-induced magnetic regimes with sharp transitions between each were identified. For Ga fluences less than 5 x 10(12) ions/cm(2), the irradiated region retains perpendicular uniaxial anisotropy but with coercivity lower than that of the as-grown film. For fluences between 5 x 10(12) and 1 x 10(13) Ga ions/cm(2), a transition from perpendicular to in-plane magnetization was experienced. Very little change of the in-plane magnetic properties of irradiated multilayers is then observed until the sample experiences a ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition at fluences around 1 x 10(15) Ga ions/cm(2). A brief comparison with the effect of irradiating with He ions is given.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: UNSPECIFIED
• Authors: Hyndman, R., Warin, P., Gierak, J., Ferre, J., Chapman, J.N., Jamet, J.P., Mathet, V., and Chappert, C.
• Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics
• ISSN: 0021-8979