836 research outputs found
Micro-SQUID technique for studying the temperature dependence of switching fields of single nanoparticles
An improved micro-SQUID technique is presented allowing us to measure the
temperature dependence of the magnetisation switching fields of single
nanoparticles well above the critical superconducting temperature of the SQUID.
Our first measurements on 3 nm cobalt nanoparticle embedded in a niobium matrix
are compared to the Neel Brown model describing the magnetisation reversal by
thermal activation over a single anisotropy barrier.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures; conference proceeding: 1st Joint European
Magnetic Symposia (JEMS'01), Grenoble (France), 28th August - 1st September,
200
Effect of surface anisotropy on the hysteretic properties of a magnetic particle
We study the influence of surface anisotropy on the zero-temperature
hysteretic properties of a small single-domain magnetic particle, and give an
estimation of the anisotropy constant for which deviations from the
Stoner-Wohlfarth model are observed. We consider a spherical particle with
simple cubic crystalline structure, a uniaxial anisotropy for core spins and
radial anisotropy on the surface, and compute the hysteresis loop by solving
the local Landau-Lifshitz equations for classical spin vectors. We find that
when the surface anisotropy constant is at least of the order of the exchange
coupling, large deviations are observed with respect to the Stoner-Wohlfarth
model in the hysteresis loop and thereby the limit-of-metastability curve, due
to the non-uniform cluster-wise reversal of the magnetisation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures: this is a short version of cond-mat/0109411
presented at the 46th MMM Conference, Seattle November 12-16, 2001, to appear
in J. Appl. Phy
Interface magnetic anisotropy in cobalt clusters embedded in a platinum or niobium matrix
A low concentration of cobalt clusters with a fcc structure and containing
almost one thousand atoms are embedded in two different metallic matrices:
platinum and niobium. Samples have been prepared using a co-deposition
technique. Cobalt clusters preformed in the gas phase and matrix atoms are
simultaneously deposited on a silicon substrate under Ultra High Vacuum
conditions. This original technique allows to prepare nanostructured systems
from miscible elements such as Co/Pt and Co/Nb in which clusters keep a pure
cobalt core surrounded with an alloyed interface. Magnetic measurements
performed using a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) reveal large differences
in the magnetic properties of cobalt clusters in Pt and Nb pointing out the key
role of cluster/matrix interfaces.Comment: 7 pages (LaTeX), 12 PostScript figures, 1 PostScript tabl
Spinodal nanodecomposition in magnetically doped semiconductors
This review presents the recent progress in computational materials design,
experimental realization, and control methods of spinodal nanodecomposition
under three- and two-dimensional crystal-growth conditions in spintronic
materials, such as magnetically doped semiconductors. The computational
description of nanodecomposition, performed by combining first-principles
calculations with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, is discussed together with
extensive electron microscopy, synchrotron radiation, scanning probe, and ion
beam methods that have been employed to visualize binodal and spinodal
nanodecomposition (chemical phase separation) as well as nanoprecipitation
(crystallographic phase separation) in a range of semiconductor compounds with
a concentration of transition metal (TM) impurities beyond the solubility
limit. The role of growth conditions, co-doping by shallow impurities, kinetic
barriers, and surface reactions in controlling the aggregation of magnetic
cations is highlighted. According to theoretical simulations and experimental
results the TM-rich regions appear either in the form of nanodots (the {\em
dairiseki} phase) or nanocolumns (the {\em konbu} phase) buried in the host
semiconductor. Particular attention is paid to Mn-doped group III arsenides and
antimonides, TM-doped group III nitrides, Mn- and Fe-doped Ge, and Cr-doped
group II chalcogenides, in which ferromagnetic features persisting up to above
room temperature correlate with the presence of nanodecomposition and account
for the application-relevant magneto-optical and magnetotransport properties of
these compounds. Finally, it is pointed out that spinodal nanodecomposition can
be viewed as a new class of bottom-up approach to nanofabrication.Comment: 72 pages, 79 figure
Strain and correlation of self-organized Ge_(1-x)Mn_x nanocolumns embedded in Ge (001)
We report on the structural properties of Ge_(1-x)Mn_x layers grown by
molecular beam epitaxy. In these layers, nanocolumns with a high Mn content are
embedded in an almost-pure Ge matrix. We have used grazing-incidence X-ray
scattering, atomic force and transmission electron microscopy to study the
structural properties of the columns. We demonstrate how the elastic
deformation of the matrix (as calculated using atomistic simulations) around
the columns, as well as the average inter-column distance can account for the
shape of the diffusion around Bragg peaks.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
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