Magnetic Weyl semimetals are newly discovered quantum materials with the potential for use in spintronic applications. Of particular interest is the cubic Heusler compound Co2MnGa due to its inherent magnetic and topological properties. This work presents the structural, magnetic and electronic properties of magnetron co-sputtered Co2MnGa thin films, with thicknesses ranging from 10 to 80 nm. Polarized neutron reflectometry confirmed a uniform magnetization through the films. Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a high degree of spin polarization and localized (itinerant) character of the Mn d (Co d) valence electrons and accompanying magnetic moments. Further, broadband and field orientation-dependent ferromagnetic resonance measurements indicated a relation between the thickness-dependent structural and magnetic properties. The increase of the tensile strain-induced tetragonal distortion in the thinner films was reflected in an increase of the cubic anisotropy term and a decrease of the perpendicular uniaxial term. The lattice distortion led to a reduction of the Gilbert damping parameter and the thickness-dependent film quality affected the inhomogeneous linewidth broadening. These experimental findings will enrich the understanding of the electronic and magnetic properties of magnetic Weyl semimetal thin films.
The impact of in-plane and perpendicular magnetic fields on the spatial arrangement of superparamagnetic nanospheres is explored. We utilize nanosphere self-organization methods like Spin Coating and Drop-Casting in the presence of magnetic fields. In this way, the additional parameter of the long range magnetic dipolar interactions is introduced to the competing nanosphere–surface and nanosphere–nanosphere interactions, which control order and agglomeration. We present a comparative analysis of the self-assembly characteristics with respect to the different methods and the effect of the applied field in different directions. Under zero field perfect hexagonal arrays can be obtained by spin coating. Parallel applied fields tend to create directional patterns, while perpendicular favor 3D-accumulation.
1 July 2019 in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Bimetallic colloidal CoPt nanoalloys with low platinum content were successfully synthesized following a modified polyol approach. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were performed to estimate the crystal structure, morphology, and surface functionalization of the colloids, respectively, while the room-temperature magnetic properties were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The particles exhibit excellent uniformity, with a narrow size distribution, and display strong room-temperature hysteretic ferromagnetic behavior even in the as-made form. Upon annealing at elevated temperatures, progressive formation and co-existence of exchange coupled, of both chemically ordered and disordered phases significantly enhanced the room-temperature coercivity.
Two series of [Ru10/Cox)]12 and [Ru6/Cr3/Cox)]12x = 16–60 easy-plane anisotropy multilayers (all thicknesses in Å), prepared by sputter deposition, are studied by cavity FMR. The resonance fields of the modes excited by setting the rf field perpendicular to the saturating (in-plane) field are in good agreement with the values predicted for pure acoustic modes by a simple two-macrospin model. In contrast, the resonance fields of the modes excited by setting the rf field parallel to the saturating field, are lower than those expected for pure optical modes. This is attributed to the existence of hybridized mixed modes. Micromagnetic simulations show that (a) the inhomogeneous magnetization profile along the multilayer thickness is sufficient to give rise to mode mixing and (b) that mode mixing is not limited to the region where the frequencies of the acoustic and optical modes coincide.
Microwave-assisted switching (MAS) is simulated for different CoPt and CoPt/Co3Pt nanosrtuctures as a function of applied DC field and microwave frequency. In all the cases, the existence of microwave excitation can lower the switching field by more than 50%. However, this coercivity reduction comes at a cost in the required switching time. The optimal frequencies follow the trends of the ferromagnetic resonances predicted by the Kittel relations. This implies that: (a) when the DC field is applied along the easy axis, the coercivity reduction is proportional to the microwave frequency, whereas (b) when the coercivity is lowered by applying the DC field at an angle of 45° to the easy axis, extra MAS reduction requires the use of high frequencies.