Nanoscale physical microstructure and micromagnetic behaviour of CoIr film with negative anisotropy

Ngo, D.-T., Hashimoto, A., McVitie, S. , Saito, S., Chapman, J. and Takahashi, M. (2011) Nanoscale physical microstructure and micromagnetic behaviour of CoIr film with negative anisotropy. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 44(9), 095001. (doi: 10.1088/0022-3727/44/9/095001)

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Abstract

The physical and magnetic structure of hcp-CoIr(10 nm)/Ru(5 nm) has been systematically characterized using transmission electron microscopy. The film was observed to be polycrystalline with a mean grain size of 15.7 ± 1.1 nm. Additionally, diffraction analysis in the TEM confirmed the presence of a [0 0 0 1] texture normal to the film plane resulting from a Ru seed layer. Lorentz microscopy observation with <i>in situ</i> magnetizing experiments showed that the film possessed a weak-anisotropy easy axis with considerable dispersion of magnetic ripple and domain wall nucleation over a negative field of 25 Oe. Magnetization reversal on the hard axis shows a non-coherent rotation of magnetic moments from easy axis to hard axis denoted by a non-uniform nucleation of low-angle walls. Dispersion of magnetization ripple is in agreement with classical ripple theory. Generally the magnetization reversal was complete by 30 Oe; however, some small regions remained which were not fully reversed with associated 360º domain walls. These appeared to be strongly pinned locally and required much larger fields to eliminate them.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McVitie, Professor Stephen and Chapman, Professor John
Authors: Ngo, D.-T., Hashimoto, A., McVitie, S., Saito, S., Chapman, J., and Takahashi, M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
ISSN:0022-3727

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