Geometrical multilayers: coercivity in magnetic 3-D nanostructures

Electrodeposition of magnetic metals through self-assembly templates from polystyrene spheres is used for fabrication of magnetic nanostructures with 3-D architectures. These arrays demonstrate unusual properties including an oscillatory dependence of the coercive field on film thickness. Numerical simulations reveal that the ratio between the array period and the hole diameter in anti-dot array is a crucial parameter giving rise to qualitatively distinct magnetization reversal regimes

Electrodeposition of Ni-Si Schottky barriers

Electrodeposition is being used to fabricate magnetic microstructures directly on patterned n-type Si wafers of various substrate resistivities. The Ni-Si Schottky barrier is characterized and found to be of high quality for relatively low Si resistivities (1-2 Omega(.)cm), with extremely low reverse leakage. It is shown that a direct correlation exists among the electrodeposition potential, the roughness, and the coercivity of the films. A conductive seed layer or a back contact is not compulsory for electrodeposition on Si with resistivities up to 15 Omega(.)cm. This shows that electrodeposition of magnetic materials on Si might be a viable fabrication technique for magnetoresistance and spintronics applications

Analysis of magnetoresistance in arrays of connected nano-rings

We study the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AME) of a 2D periodic square array of connected permalloy rings with periodicity of 1m combining experimental and computational techniques. The computational models consists of two parts: 1) the computation of the magnetization and 2) the computation of the current density. For 1), we use standard micromagnetic methods. For 2), we start from a potential difference applied across the sample, compute the resulting electric potential , and subsequently the corresponding current density based on a uniform conductiviy. We take into account the backreaction of the magnetoresistive effects onto the current density by self-consistently computing the current density and conductivity until they converge. We compare the experimentally measured AMR insight into the characteristics of the AMR data. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of taking into account the spatial variation of the current density when computing the AMR

Self-assembly routes towards creating superconducting and magnetic arrays

Using self-assembly from colloidal suspensions of polystyrene latex spheres we prepared well-ordered templates. By electrochemical deposition of magnetic and superconducting metals in the pores of such templates highly ordered magnetic and superconducting anti-dot nano-structures with 3D architectures were created. Further developments of this template preparation method allow us to obtain dot arrays and even more complicated structures. In magnetic anti-dot arrays we observe a large increase in coercive field produced by nanoscale (50–1000nm) holes. We also find the coercive field to demonstrate an oscillatory dependence on film thickness. In magnetic dot arrays we have explored the genesis of 3D magnetic vortices and determined the critical dot size. Superconducting Pb anti-dot arrays show pronounced Little-Parks oscillations in Tc and matching effects in magnetization and magnetic susceptibility. The spherical shape of the holes results in significantly reduced pinning strength as compared to standard lithographic samples. Our results demonstrate that self-assembly template methods are emerging as a viable, low cost route to prepare sub-micron structures

Shape-induced anisotropy in antidot arrays from self-assembled templates

Using self-assembly of polystyrene spheres, well-ordered templates have been prepared on glass and silicon substrates. Strong guiding of self-assembly is obtained on photolithographically structured silicon substrates. Magnetic antidot arrays with three-dimensional architecture have been prepared by electrodeposition in the pores of these templates. The shape anisotropy demonstrates a crucial impact on magnetization reversal processes

Solving the inverse problem for determining the optical characteristics of materials

The paper describes a methodology for determining the optical and physical properties of anisotropic thin film materials. This approach allows in the future designing multilayer thin-film coatings with specified properties. An inverse problem of determining the permittivity tensor and the thickness of a thin film deposited on a glass substrate is formulated. Preliminary information on the belonging of a thin-film coating to a certain class can significantly reduce the computing time and increase the accuracy of determining the permittivity tensor over the entire investigated range of wavelengths and film thickness at the point of reflection and transmission measurement Depending on the goals, it is possible to formulate and, therefore, solve various inverse problems: o determination of the permittivity tensor and specification of the thickness of a thick (up to 1 cm) substrate, often isotropic; o determination of the permittivity tensor of a thin isotropic or anisotropic film deposited on a substrate with known optical properties. The complexity of solving each of the problems is very different and each problem requires its own specific set of measured input data. The ultimate results of solving the inverse problem are verified by comparing the calculated transmission and reflection with those measured for arbitrary angles of incidence and reflection.В работе изложена методология определения оптических и физических свойств анизотропных тонкоплёночных материалов. Такой подход позволяет в дальнейшем проектировать многослойные тонкоплёночные покрытия с заданными свойствами. Сформулирована обратная задача определения тензора диэлектрической проницаемости и толщины тонкой плёнки, нанесённой на стеклянную подложку, с известными оптическими свойствами и толщиной. Предварительная информация о принадлежности тонкоплёночного покрытия к определённому классу позволяет значительно сократить время расчёта и увеличить точность определения тензора диэлектрической проницаемости на всём исследуемом интервале длин волн и толщины плёнки в точке измерения отражения и пропускания. В зависимости от поставленных целей возможна постановка и, следовательно, решение различных обратных задач: o определение тензора диэлектрической проницаемости и уточнение толщины толстой (до 1 см) подложки, часто изотропной; o определение тензора диэлектрической проницаемости тонкой изотропной или анизотропной плёнки, нанесённой на подложку, с известными оптическими свойствами. Сложность решения каждой из задач весьма различна и каждая требует своего определённого набора измеренных входных данных. Окончательные результаты решения обратной задачи верифицируются с помощью сравнения вычисленных коэффициентов пропускания и отражения с измеренными для произвольных углов падения и отражения

Formation of the Electric Field Distribution in Thin Electro-Optic Layers for Precision Correction their Optical Characteristics

A method of making given field distribution within thin electro-optical layers by using narrow band electrodes placed at the same electric potential. A formula for electric field intensity produced by a single band electrode is obtained. Electric field modeling for different band electrode configurations is undertaken. It was shown, by applying piezoresponse force microscopy, that in case of highly inhomogeneous field the polarization of lithium niobate electro-optical film persisted only in the area above the band electrode. Lithium niobate, electro-optical structures, piezoresponse force microscopy, Computer simulation

Momentum Distributions of Particles from Three--Body Halo Fragmentation: Final State Interactions

Momentum distributions of particles from nuclear break-up of fast three-body halos are calculated consistently, and applied to $^{11}$Li. The same two-body interactions between the three particles are used to calculate the ground state structure and the final state of the reaction processes. We reproduce the available momentum distributions from $^{11}$Li fragmentation, together with the size and energy of $^{11}$Li, with a neutron-core relative state containing a $p$-state admixture of 20\%-30\%. The available fragmentation data strongly suggest an $s$-state in $^{10}$Li at about 50 keV, and indicate a $p$-state around 500 keV.Comment: 11 pages (RevTeX), 3 Postscript figures (uuencoded postscript file attached at the end of the LaTeX file). To be published in Phys. Rev.