The importance of temporal stress variation and dynamic disequilibrium for the initiation of plate tectonics

We use 1-D thermal history models and 3-D numerical experiments to study the impact of dynamic thermal disequilibrium and large temporal variations of normal and shear stresses on the initiation of plate tectonics. Previous models that explored plate tectonics initiation from a steady state, single plate mode of convection concluded that normal stresses govern the initiation of plate tectonics, which based on our 1-D model leads to plate yielding being more likely with increasing interior heat and planet mass for a depth-dependent Byerlee yield stress. Using 3-D spherical shell mantle convection models in an episodic regime allows us to explore larger temporal stress variations than can be addressed by considering plate failure from a steady state stagnant lid configuration. The episodic models show that an increase in convective mantle shear stress at the lithospheric base initiates plate failure, which leads with our 1-D model to plate yielding being less likely with increasing interior heat and planet mass. In this out-of-equilibrium and strongly time-dependent stress scenario, the onset of lithospheric overturn events cannot be explained by boundary layer thickening and normal stresses alone. Our results indicate that in order to understand the initiation of plate tectonics, one should consider the temporal variation of stresses and dynamic disequilibrium

Hyper-domains in exchange bias micro-stripe pattern

A combination of experimental techniques, e.g. vector-MOKE magnetometry, Kerr microscopy and polarized neutron reflectometry, was applied to study the field induced evolution of the magnetization distribution over a periodic pattern of alternating exchange bias (EB) stripes. The lateral structure is imprinted into a continuous ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic EB bilayer via laterally selective exposure to He-ion irradiation in an applied field. This creates an alternating frozen-in interfacial EB field competing with the external field in the course of the re-magnetization. It was found that in a magnetic field applied at an angle with respect to the EB axis parallel to the stripes the re-magnetization process proceeds via a variety of different stages. They include coherent rotation of magnetization towards the EB axis, precipitation of small random (ripple) domains, formation of a stripe-like alternation of the magnetization, and development of a state in which the magnetization forms large hyper-domains comprising a number of stripes. Each of those magnetic states is quantitatively characterized via the comprehensive analysis of data on specular and off-specular polarized neutron reflectivity. The results are discussed within a phenomenological model containing a few parameters, which can readily be controlled by designing systems with a desired configuration of magnetic moments of micro- and nano-elements

Electrical conductivity during incipient melting in the oceanic low-velocity zone

International audienceThe low-viscosity layer in the upper mantle, the asthenosphere, is a requirement for plate tectonics1. The seismic low velocities and the high electrical conductivities of the asthenosphere are attributed either to subsolidus, water-related defects in olivine minerals2, 3, 4 or to a few volume per cent of partial melt5, 6, 7, 8, but these two interpretations have two shortcomings. First, the amount of water stored in olivine is not expected to be higher than 50 parts per million owing to partitioning with other mantle phases9 (including pargasite amphibole at moderate temperatures10) and partial melting at high temperatures9. Second, elevated melt volume fractions are impeded by the temperatures prevailing in the asthenosphere, which are too low, and by the melt mobility, which is high and can lead to gravitational segregation11, 12. Here we determine the electrical conductivity of carbon-dioxide-rich and water-rich melts, typically produced at the onset of mantle melting. Electrical conductivity increases modestly with moderate amounts of water and carbon dioxide, but it increases drastically once the carbon dioxide content exceeds six weight per cent in the melt. Incipient melts, long-expected to prevail in the asthenosphere10, 13, 14, 15, can therefore produce high electrical conductivities there. Taking into account variable degrees of depletion of the mantle in water and carbon dioxide, and their effect on the petrology of incipient melting, we calculated conductivity profiles across the asthenosphere for various tectonic plate ages. Several electrical discontinuities are predicted and match geophysical observations in a consistent petrological and geochemical framework. In moderately aged plates (more than five million years old), incipient melts probably trigger both the seismic low velocities and the high electrical conductivities in the upper part of the asthenosphere, whereas in young plates4, where seamount volcanism occurs6, a higher degree of melting is expected

Thermal stability of magnetic nanostructures in ion-bombardment-modified exchange-bias systems

Höink V, Sacher M, Schmalhorst J-M, et al. Thermal stability of magnetic nanostructures in ion-bombardment-modified exchange-bias systems. PHYSICAL REVIEW B. 2006;73(22): 224428.In magnetic bilayer systems consisting of a ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet the strength and direction of the exchange bias coupling can be set by ion bombardment in an external magnetic field. Magnetic nanostructures with a laterally varying exchange bias direction can be produced by local ion bombardment (ion bombardment induced magnetic patterning). We have investigated the thermal stability of these magnetic nanostructures by in situ x-ray photoemission electron microscopy while heating the samples above their blocking temperature. The investigations have been done at a 10.4 mu mx10.4 mu m large checkered pattern with a minimum size of the magnetic patterns of 800 nmx800 nm on a field cooled MnIr/CoFe stack and a pattern with 1.6 mu m wide lines with a periodicity of 5 mu m on an as-prepared MnIr/Co stack. The temperature dependence of the magnetization pattern can be explained by the temperature dependence of the exchange bias interaction, the exchange interaction energy, and the stray field energy. No substantial change of the thermal stability of magnetic patterns in remanence by the ion bombardment was found

Switchable resonant x-ray Bragg scattering on a magnetic grating patterned by ion bombardment

Höink V, Sacher M, Schmalhorst J-M, et al. Switchable resonant x-ray Bragg scattering on a magnetic grating patterned by ion bombardment. JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS. 2006;100(6): 063903.A local manipulation of the exchange bias coupling between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic layers by ion bombardment induced magnetic patterning enables a patterning of the magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic layer without considerable structural changes. We show that a magnetic line grating with alternating antiparallel orientations of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer acts as a magnetically switchable reflective grating for soft x-ray radiation. A common rotational direction of the magnetization at all boundaries between bombarded and not bombarded lines is shown by magnetic force microscopy measurements. Scattering at the edges of the bombarded lines might be responsible for the observed interference pattern. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics

Influence of ion bombardment induced patterning of exchange bias in pinned artificial ferrimagnets on the interlayer exchange coupling

Höink V, Schmalhorst J-M, Reiss G, et al. Influence of ion bombardment induced patterning of exchange bias in pinned artificial ferrimagnets on the interlayer exchange coupling. JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS. 2008;103(12): 123903.Artificial ferrimagnets have many applications as, e.g., pinned reference electrodes in magnetic tunnel junctions. It is known that the application of ion bombardment (IB) induced patterning of the exchange bias coupling of a single layer reference electrode in magnetic tunnel junctions with He ions is possible. For applications as, e.g., special types of magnetic logic, a combination of the IB induced patterning of the exchange bias coupling and the implementation of an artificial ferrimagnet as reference electrode is desirable. Here, investigations for a pinned artificial ferrimagnet with a Ru interlayer, which is frequently used in magnetic tunnel junctions, are presented. It is shown that in this kind of samples the exchange bias can be increased or rotated by IB induced magnetic patterning with 10 keV He ions without a destruction of the antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling. An IrMn/Py/Co/Cu/Co stack turned out to be more sensitive to the influence of IB than the Ru based artificial ferrimagnet. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics

Magnetic order in exchange bias patterns in a continuous film

Theis-Bröhl K, Toperverg BP, Wolff M, et al. Magnetic order in exchange bias patterns in a continuous film. Scientific Highlight in the ILL Annual Report. 2006;2006

Polarized neutron reflectometry study on a magnetic film with an ion beam imprinted stripe pattern

Theis-Broehl K, Toperverg BP, Westphalen A, et al. Polarized neutron reflectometry study on a magnetic film with an ion beam imprinted stripe pattern. In: Superlattices and Microstructures. SUPERLATTICES AND MICROSTRUCTURES. Vol 41. ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD; 2007: 104-108.We used polarized neutron reflectometry for a quantitative study of the field dependent arrangement of the magnetization vector in the different regions of an ion beam imprinted stripe pattern in a magnetic film. For the magnetic patterning of the Co70Fe30 film we took advantage of the exchange bias to an antiferromagnetic Mn83Ir17 layer which was changed locally by He-ion bombardment. The exchange bias was set to be antiparallel in the two different striped regions. We found that after magnetization reversal of half of the stripes the magnetization in neighbouring regions is periodically canted with respect to the stripe axis so that the net magnetization of the ferromagnetic film tums almost perpendicular to the stripes. At the same time the projection of the magnetization vector onto the stripe axis has a periodically alternating sign. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Lt

Hyper-domains in exchange bias micro-stripe pattern

A combination of experimental techniques, e.g. vector-MOKE magnetometry, Kerr microscopy and polarized neutron reflectometry, was applied to study the field induced evolution of the magnetization distribution over a periodic pattern of alternating exchange bias (EB) stripes. The lateral structure is imprinted into a continuous ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic EB bilayer via laterally selective exposure to He-ion irradiation in an applied field. This creates an alternating frozen-in interfacial EB field competing with the external field in the course of the re-magnetization. It was found that in a magnetic field applied at an angle with respect to the EB axis parallel to the stripes the re-magnetization process proceeds via a variety of different stages. They include coherent rotation of magnetization towards the EB axis, precipitation of small random (ripple) domains, formation of a stripe-like alternation of the magnetization, and development of a state in which the magnetization forms large hyper-domains comprising a number of stripes. Each of those magnetic states is quantitatively characterized via the comprehensive analysis of data on specular and off-specular polarized neutron reflectivity. The results are discussed within a phenomenological model containing a few parameters, which can readily be controlled by designing systems with a desired configuration of magnetic moments of micro- and nano-elements