Magnetization on rough ferromagnetic surfaces

Zhao, Daqiang; Liu, Feng; Hùber, D. L.; Lagally, M. G.

doi:10.1103/physrevb.62.11316

Cited by 23 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…A recent theoretical paper predicts ''loose moments'' ͑model 3͒ using a simple Ising model. 16 Differences between magnetic-and chemical-boundary roughness have recently been observed for two additional magnetic-thin-film systems. In CoFe alloy films capped with Cu the magnetic boundary is smoother than the chemical boundary, and the height-height correlation lengths of the magnetic roughness were longer than that of the chemical roughness, in agreement with Ref.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of magnetic- and chemical-boundary roughness in magnetic films and multilayers

Kelly

Barnes

Flack

et al. 2002

Journal of Applied Physics

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Diffuse x-ray resonant magnetic scattering, atomic-force microscopy, and magnetic hysteresis measurements are used to explore the relationship between the roughness and magnetic properties of interfaces between magnetic and nonmagnetic thin films. Bare Co films and Co films capped with magnetic and nonmagnetic thin films are investigated to elucidate why and under what circumstances the magnetic boundary differs from the chemical boundary. Competing models to explain why the magnetic boundary appears smoother than the chemical boundary are explored.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of magnetic- and chemical-boundary roughness in magnetic films and multilayers

Kelly

Barnes

Flack

et al. 2002

Journal of Applied Physics

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“…The study of magnetic properties of rough, corrugated surfaces near criticality is a rather new and promising field. The case of one additional terrace on an otherwise perfect surface may be generalized to the more complex situation of vicinal surfaces with terraces separated by equally spaced monoatomic steps [250,251,252,253]. In nature, rough surfaces often result from a growth process and strongly affect the surface magnetisation.…”

Section: Semi-infinite Systems With Surface Imperfectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diffusion-limited growth results in a rough growth front following a Poisson distribution. This may be realized in simulations by considering a surface formed of columns of random heights [251], see also [254]. Layer-by-layer growth, however, may result in films with a finite number of complete layers and one partially filled layer, thus yielding a different type of roughness [255].…”

Section: Semi-infinite Systems With Surface Imperfectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical phenomena at perfect and non-perfect surfaces

Pleimling¹

2004

J. Phys. A: Math. Gen.

100

135

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Abstract. In the past perfect surfaces have been shown to yield a local critical behaviour that differs from the bulk critical behaviour. On the other hand surface defects, whether they are of natural origin or created artificially, are known to modify local quantities. It is therefore important to clarify whether these defects are relevant or irrelevant for the surface critical behaviour.The purpose of this review is two-fold. In the first part we summarise some of the important results on surface criticality at perfect surfaces. Special attention is thereby paid to new developments as for example the study of surface critical behaviour in systems with competing interactions or of surface critical dynamics. In the second part the effect of surface defects (presence of edges, steps, quenched randomness, lines of adatoms, regular geometric patterns) on local critical behaviour in semi-infinite systems and in thin films is discussed in detail. Whereas most of the defects commonly encountered are shown to be irrelevant, some notable exceptions are highlighted. It is shown furthermore that under certain circumstances non-universal local critical behaviour may be observed at surfaces.

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“…Surface/interface roughness strongly influences both the static ͑e.g., magnetization͒ 17 and dynamic ͑e.g., magnetic hysteresis͒ 16 magnetic properties of thin films. Experiments have demonstrated that surface steps induce an in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, with the easy axis parallel to the step direction, in a variety of magnetic thin films 1-11 grown on metal as well as on semiconductor stepped surfaces.…”

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Step-induced magnetic-hysteresis anisotropy in ferromagnetic thin films

Zhao

Liu

Hùber

et al. 2002

Journal of Applied Physics

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We investigate the quasistatic magnetic hysteresis of ferromagnetic thin films grown on a vicinal substrate, using Monte Carlo simulations within a two-dimensional XY model. Intrinsic in-plane anisotropy is assigned to surface sites according to their local symmetry. The simulated hysteresis loops show a strong anisotropy: the coercive field is the largest when the external field is along the step direction and vanishes when the external field is perpendicular to the step direction. In general, the coercivity increases with increasing step density, but displays a more complex dependence on film thickness. The simulations also suggest that the mechanism for the magnetization reversal is coherent rotation. These results are in good agreement with experiments. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. ͓DOI: 10.1063/1.1433179͔The magnetic properties of ferromagnetic thin films and multilayers have been extensively studied because of their potential impact on magnetic recording devices. As the thickness of a film is reduced, its properties are expected to be strongly influenced by surfaces and interfaces, which are inevitably rough at atomic scales. The ultimate goal of studies of the influences of surface/interface roughness on magnetic properties of thin films 1-17 is to engineer desirable magnetic properties by artificially creating and controlling the surface/ interface structure and morphology.Surface/interface roughness strongly influences both the static ͑e.g., magnetization͒ 17 and dynamic ͑e.g., magnetic hysteresis͒ 16 magnetic properties of thin films. Experiments have demonstrated that surface steps induce an in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, with the easy axis parallel to the step direction, in a variety of magnetic thin films 1-11 grown on metal as well as on semiconductor stepped surfaces. The measured hysteresis loops show that the coercive field decreases while the saturation field increases when the external field is turned away from the direction parallel to the steps to the direction perpendicular to the steps, and such uniaxial anisotropy increases with increasing step density. 10 Theoretical modeling and simulations have been carried out to investigate the effect of steps on magnetization reversal. 14 -16 In particular, Hyman et al. 16 have recently derived, within a two-dimensional XY model, a phase diagram of hysteresis loops in the parameter space of anisotropy strength and step density, for magnetic reversal on vicinal surfaces.In this article, we carry out Monte Carlo simulations of hysteresis loops of ferromagnetic thin films to extend these earlier theoretical studies. 14 -16 Our focus is to investigate systematically the effect of step density and film thickness on magnetic hysteresis anisotropy in ultrathin films grown on vicinal substrates. Our simulations show that the coercive ͑saturation͒ field decreases ͑increases͒ monotonically as the angle between the external field and the step direction is increases from 0°to 90°, exhibiting a strong hysteresis anisotropy. The coercivity, for ...

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Magnetization on rough ferromagnetic surfaces

Cited by 23 publications

References 18 publications

Comparison of magnetic- and chemical-boundary roughness in magnetic films and multilayers

Comparison of magnetic- and chemical-boundary roughness in magnetic films and multilayers

Critical phenomena at perfect and non-perfect surfaces

Step-induced magnetic-hysteresis anisotropy in ferromagnetic thin films

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