MatSci 224 Magnetism and Magnetic. November 5, 2003

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1 MatSci 224 Magnetism and Magnetic Materials November 5, 2003

2 How small is small? What determines whether a magnetic structure is made of up a single domain or many domains? d Single domain d~l d d >> l Magnetization could also be non-uniform within a domain Multi-domain Characteristic length scales Exchange length- over which magnetic moments are parallel l = A /M s where A= exchange constant, M s = saturation magnetization Domain wall widthd = π (A/K) where K= anisotropy constant

3 Review of Fundamentals: Energies Magnetostatic associated with magnetization in its own self-field potential energy/volume of magnetization M in an external field B: u = -M B potential energy/volume of magnetization M in its own self field H d : u = -(µ o /2)M H d = (µ o /2)NM 2 Exchange associated with QM interactions (Pauli s exclusion principle) among atomic moments Anisotropy associated with tendency for the magnetic moments to align in certain directions due to crystal symmetry, stress, etc.

4 Magnetostatic Energy a.k.a. demagnetization or dipolar energy Potential energy m 0 Ú - M. H 2 V d dv m 0 Ú 2 = - M. NH ddv 2 V N d = 1/3 Minimizing magnetostatic energy by forming domains M M N d ~ 0 N d ~ 1

5 Exchange Energy Direct exchange real overlap of orbitals of atoms a and b a usually not applicable (eg 4f) (even for 3d, for which itinerant nature more important) Indirect super exchange via non-magnetic atom dominant exchange for many insulators (MnF 2 ) exchange mediated by non-magnetic atom a calculate energy for different possible combinations of orbitals (similar idea to model calc n but much more complex) J can be + or depending on orbital overlap Indirect RKKY exchange magnetic atom polarizes conduction electrons J RKKY ~ {cos(2k F r)} / r 3 a oscillatory (period depends on k F ) J can be + or depending on distance between magnetic atoms b b b

6 Anisotropy Energy Energy associated with rotating magnetic moment in the desired direction Possible origins of anisotropy shape (demagnetization energy) crystal structure-> crystal field effects, spin-orbit coupling strain -> spin-orbit coupling

7 Vortices in NiFe Elements 5nm 0.8µm diameter NiFe elements under increasing and decreasing magnetic fields Single and two vortex states observed Reduction of magnetostatic energy in vortex state 10nm 20nm 50nm Pokhil et al. JAP (00)

8 Magnetic Islands on Templates Vortex state with 90 Neel walls with in-plane domains No in-plane anisotropy for FeCo Perpendicular single domains Perp anisotropy for Co/Pt multilayers 0.4µm AFM and MFM of FeCo on 400nm square dots No direct exchange effect due to sidewall deposits 0.8µm MFM of Co/Pt multilayers on 200nm square dots (200nm apart and 47 nm high)

9 Magnetic Dots on Nanoimprinted Structures Feature sizes from 30 to 400nm and periodicities from 60 to 500nm (d is on the order of l) Co/Pt multilayers deposited on nanoimprinted silicon templates direct exchange between dots via deposits on the sidewalls of the dots SEM of 60nm Ni dots in a 80nm periodicity array MFM of 60nm Ni Dots are single domain Moritz et al. JAP (02)

10 Single Domain Dots 80x140x(14-30)nm Co rectangles In-plane single domains for t<20nm Double domain configuration in t~30nm Dipolar interactions among islands in densely packed arrays Evoy et al. JAP (00)

11 Single Crystalline Submicron Co Dots Perpendicular anisotropy of Co dots 0.5µm diameter and 25-50nm thick In 25nm thick dots, the main component of magnetization is in-plane along with a small concentric ring structure of the perpendicular component Hehn et al. Science (96)

12 Competing Anisotropies Rectangular and needle-shaped ends of (110) 50nm thick Fe exhibit different reversal behavior due to competing magnetic anisotropies: shape, crystal and strain E anis = (K 1 + K u )sin 2 q - 3K 1 /4 sin 4 q + MFM of rectangular Fe elements at H=0 after longitudinal saturation 2 - M. NH 2 where q is the angle between the magnetization and [001] and K 1 and K u are the magnetocrystalline and uniaxial strain anisotropies respectively Yu et al. JAP (99) m 0 Ú V d dv

13 Competing Anisotropies c) d) a) b) MFM of rectangular Fe elements at H=0 after longitudinal (a,c) and transverse (b,d) saturation When magnetic easy axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the structure, a stripe domain configuration minimizes the free energy. When ratio of anisotropy to demagnetization energy Q = K/2πM 2 <1, then flux closure domains at H=0 are also favored. Nucleation barriers to overcome for the formation of stripes.

14 Competing Energies Ratio of anisotropy to demagnetization energy Q=K/2πM s 2 determines whether we should expect closure domains. Q<<1 Q>1 Exchange thickness ( A/M s ) dictates that the surface domain structure (as observed by MFM) is a good measure of most of the film thickness.

15 Competing Energies continued E domain E anisotropy E = s w [2 2+(t-d)/d] + r a d/2 t E min = (2 2-1)s w +(2s w tr a ) 1/2 d s w = surface energy density of Bloch wall r a = anisotropy energy density E magnetic E domain E = 1.7M s 2 d + s w t/d E min = 2(1.7s w t) 1/2 M s t > d E anisotropy E = r a t Kittel, Phys. Rev (46)

16 Magnetic Islands of Colossal Magnetoresistance Materials Magnetization H topographic and magnetic images of La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 islands H Field (Oe) Magnetization loops show the effect of shape on the magnetic response. 4 3 Wu, Matsushita & Suzuki PRB 64 R (2001)

17 Magnetization Reversal of LSMO/LAO Islands Under a -450 Oe field x - perpendicular to the film. Under a 450 Oe field. perpendicular to the film. Wu et al. PRB 64 R (01)

18 Thickness Dependence of CMR Islands 70 nm high 90 nm high Wu et al. PRB 64 R (01)

19 Aspect Ratio: Aspect Ratio and Domain Structures mm 1mm 1mm Magnetic Force Microscopy images of LSMO dots Wu and Suzuki