Magnetic structure and diffracted magneto-optics of patterned amorphous multilayers

Abstract

We present magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements of patterned arrays of Co 68 Fe 24 Zr 8 / Al 2 O 3 amorphous multilayers. The multilayers were patterned in two dimensions into two different arrangements of circular and ellipsoidal islands. Magnetization loops were recorded in a longitudinal geometry using both the specularly reflected beam as well as diffracted beams scattered off the patterned films. The magnetization of the patterned structures is significantly different from the magnetization of a continuous multilayer owing to the lateral confinement of the pattern and the introduction of additional dipolar coupling between the layers at the edges of the islands. By investigating the magnetic response at the different diffraction orders from the two different configurations of islands we are able to observe the magnetization at different length scales and determine the magnetic response of the circular and ellipsoidal islands individually.

Influence of shape anisotropy on reversal process in coupled ellipsoidal magnetic dot array

“…[7][8][9][10] Recent progresses in fabrication of nanodots have increased the capability to design and experimentally study the magnetic properties of laterally confined patterned structures. [11][12][13][14] The circular and elliptical patterned structures are the reliable model to study the reversal process both in isolated and coupled dots. 9,[15][16][17][18][19] The magnetostatic energy is varied by demagnetization energy identified by shape anisotropy of the interacting elements.…”

Steering light with magnetic textures

“…We describe the connection between the magnetic texture of the YIG film and the deflected light, establishing a description of the relation between the real space magnetic domain structure and the reciprocal space, as seen from the scattered light patterns. [28][29][30][31] We also quantify the efficiency of the YIG-based grating. The ideas and results discussed here can be utilized for the design and development of a new generation of flat, reconfigurable, and potentially fast optics 10 through the control of magnetic order and textures at the mesoscale 12 using thin film technology and nanolithography.…”

Steering light with magnetic textures

“…The steering is obtained by applying an external magnetic field, influencing the spontaneously formed stripe-like magnetic domains, which in turn affects the intensity of the angular distribution of the transmitted light. We describe the connection between the magnetic texture of the YIG film and the obtained optical patterns [17][18][19] . The ideas and results discussed here can be utilized for design and development of a new generation of flat, reconfigurable and potentially fast optics 10 , utilizing control of magnetic order and textures at the mesoscale, using thin film technology and a) Current address: Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, New Haven 06511, CT, USA.…”