10,847 research outputs found
Engineering magnetic domain-wall structure in permalloy nanowires
Using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy we investigate the behavior of
domain walls pinned at non-topographic defects in Cr(3 nm)/Permalloy(10
nm)/Cr(5 nm) nanowires of width 500 nm. The pinning sites consist of linear
defects where magnetic properties are modified by a Ga ion probe with diameter
~ 10 nm using a focused ion beam microscope. We study the detailed change of
the modified region (which is on the scale of the focused ion spot) using
electron energy loss spectroscopy and differential phase contrast imaging on an
aberration (Cs) corrected scanning transmission electron microscope. The signal
variation observed indicates that the region modified by the irradiation
corresponds to ~ 40-50 nm despite the ion probe size of only 10 nm. Employing
the Fresnel mode of Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we show that it
is possible to control the domain wall structure and its depinning strength not
only via the irradiation dose but also the line orientation.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Applie
Fingerprinting the magnetic behavior of antiferromagnetic nanostructures using remanent magnetization curves
Antiferromagnetic (AF) nanostructures from Co3O4, CoO and Cr2O3 were prepared
by the nanocasting method and were characterized magnetometrically. The field
and temperature dependent magnetization data suggests that the nanostructures
consist of a core-shell structure. The core behaves as a regular
antiferromagnet and the shell as a two-dimensional diluted antiferromagnet in a
field (2d DAFF) as previously shown on Co3O4 nanowires [Benitez et al., Phys.
Rev. Lett. 101, 097206 (2008)]. Here we present a more general picture on three
different material systems, i.e. Co3O4, CoO and Cr2O3. In particular we
consider the thermoremanent (TRM) and the isothermoremanent (IRM) magnetization
curves as "fingerprints" in order to identify the irreversible magnetization
contribution originating from the shells. The TRM/IRM fingerprints are compared
to those of superparamagnetic systems, superspin glasses and 3d DAFFs. We
demonstrate that TRM/IRM vs. H plots are generally useful fingerprints to
identify irreversible magnetization contributions encountered in particular in
nanomagnets.Comment: submitted to PR
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