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Non‐contact evaluation of the electrical conductivity of thin metallic films by eddy current microscopy
Author(s) -
Tohmyoh Hironori,
Ishikawa Shoho,
Muraoka Mikio
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
surface and interface analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-9918
pISSN - 0142-2421
DOI - 10.1002/sia.5005
Subject(s) - eddy current , electrical resistivity and conductivity , materials science , current (fluid) , track (disk drive) , conductivity , thin film , magnetic field , microscopy , electrical contacts , oscillation (cell signaling) , magnetic force microscope , phase (matter) , condensed matter physics , nuclear magnetic resonance , analytical chemistry (journal) , optics , optoelectronics , chemistry , nanotechnology , electrical engineering , magnetization , physics , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics , chromatography , engineering , biochemistry , organic chemistry , computer science , operating system
An eddy current microscopy technique to evaluate the electrical conductivity of thin metallic films in a non‐contact manner is reported. A narrow track formed in an approximately 100 nm thick Au film was prepared, and a Co–Cr coated magnetic tip was driven to oscillate above the track both with and without current passing through the track. Despite the absence of current, the electromagnetic interaction between the tip and the stray magnetic field from the track gave rise to a phase delay in the probe. This was due to an eddy current being induced within part of the track. Moreover, measurements of the phase change in the probe oscillation for different metallic films with thicknesses of about 100 nm found this to be proportional to the electrical conductivity of the film. Finally, the electrical conductivity of an Al film was evaluated using the eddy current microscopy technique. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.