Open AccessMagnetocrystalline anisotropy of magnetic grains in Co80Pt20:oxide thin films probed by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism
Author(s) -
Wen Zhang,
Simon A. Morton,
Ping Kwan Johnny Wong,
Xuefeng Hu,
Elke Arenholz,
Bin Lü,
T. Y. Cheng,
Yongbing Xu,
G. van der Laan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.699
H-Index - 319
eISSN - 1089-7550
pISSN - 0021-8979
DOI - 10.1063/1.3596516
Subject(s) - magnetocrystalline anisotropy , magnetic circular dichroism , magnetic anisotropy , x ray magnetic circular dichroism , materials science , condensed matter physics , hysteresis , magnetic hysteresis , anisotropy , oxide , thin film , nuclear magnetic resonance , crystallography , magnetization , chemistry , optics , nanotechnology , magnetic field , metallurgy , physics , quantum mechanics , astronomy , spectral line
Using angle-dependent x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, we have measured magnetic hysteresis loops at the Co L2,3 edges of oxide-doped Co80Pt20 thin films. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) of the Co atoms, which is the main source of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the CoPt magnetic grains, has been determined directly from these element-specific hysteresis loops. When the oxide volume fraction (OVF) is increased from 16.6% to 20.7%, the Co MAE has been found to decrease from 0.117 meV/atom to 0.076 meV/atom. While a larger OVF helps one to achieve a smaller grain size, it reduces the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, as demonstrated unambiguously from the direct Co MAE measurements. Our results suggest that those Co80Pt20:oxide films with an OVF between 19.1% and 20.7% are suitable candidates for high-density magnetic recording
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom