Observation of Josephson coupling through an interlayer of antiferromagnetically ordered chromium

The supercurrent transport in metallic Josephson tunnel junctions with an additional interlayer made up by chromium, being an itinerant antiferromagnet, was studied. Uniform Josephson coupling was observed as a function of the magnetic field. The supercurrent shows a weak dependence on the interlayer thickness for thin chromium layers and decays exponentially for thicker films. The diffusion constant and the coherence length in the antiferromagnet were estimated. The antiferromagnetic state of the barrier was indirectly verified using reference samples. Our results are compared to macroscopic and microscopic models.Comment: Phys. Rev. B (2009), in prin

Antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling across an amorphous metallic spacer layer

By means of magneto-optical Kerr effect we observe for the first time antiferromagnetic coupling between ferromagnetic layers across an amorphous metallic spacer layer. Biquadratic coupling occurs at the transition from a ferromagnetically to an antiferromagnetically coupled region. Scanning tunneling microscopy images of all involved layers are used to extract thickness fluctuations and to verify the amorphous state of the spacer. The observed antiferromagnetic coupling behavior is explained by RKKY interaction taking into account the amorphous structure of the spacer material.Comment: Typset using RevTex, 4 pages with 4 figures (.eps

Spin Reorientations Induced by Morphology Changes in Fe/Ag(001)

By means of magneto-optical Kerr effect we observe spin reorientations from in-plane to out-of-plane and vice versa upon annealing thin Fe films on Ag(001) at increasing temperatures. Scanning tunneling microscopy images of the different Fe films are used to quantify the surface roughness. The observed spin reorientations can be explained with the experimentally acquired roughness parameters by taking into account the effect of roughness on both the magnetic dipolar and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy.Comment: 4 pages with 3 EPS figure

Influence of torrefaction on the grindability and reactivity of woody biomass

7 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables.-- Available online Oct 23, 2007.The use of biomass to produce energy is becoming more and more frequent as it helps to achieve a sustainable environmental scenario. However the exploitation of this fuel source does have drawbacks that need to be solved. In this work, the torrefaction of woody biomass (eucalyptus) was studied in order to improve its properties for pulverised systems. The process consisted in a heating treatment at moderate temperature (240, 260, 280°C) under an inert atmosphere. The grindability of raw biomass and the treated samples was compared and an improvement in the grindability characteristics was observed after the torrefaction process. Thermogravimetric analysis of the samples was carried out in order to study their reactivity in air. The DTG curves of the torrefied biomass showed a double peak nature. The kinetic parameters were calculated for each reaction stage. The torrefaction process was found to influence the parameters of the first stage, whereas those corresponding to the second remained unaffected.This work was carried out with financial support from the Spanish CDTI (Project CENIT PiIBE) and ELCOGAS, S.A. M.G.P. and C.P. acknowledge the support from the CSIC I3P Program co-financed by the European Social Fund, and J.F. from the Plan Regional de Investigacion del Principado de Asturias.Peer reviewe

Surface structure of i-Al(68)Pd(23)Mn(9): An analysis based on the T*(2F) tiling decorated by Bergman polytopes

A Fibonacci-like terrace structure along a 5fold axis of i-Al(68)Pd(23)Mn(9) monograins has been observed by T.M. Schaub et al. with scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). In the planes of the terraces they see patterns of dark pentagonal holes. These holes are well oriented both within and among terraces. In one of 11 planes Schaub et al. obtain the autocorrelation function of the hole pattern. We interpret these experimental findings in terms of the Katz-Gratias-de Boisseu-Elser model. Following the suggestion of Elser that the Bergman clusters are the dominant motive of this model, we decorate the tiling T*(2F) by the Bergman polytopes only. The tiling T*(2F) allows us to use the powerful tools of the projection techniques. The Bergman polytopes can be easily replaced by the Mackay polytopes as the decoration objects. We derive a picture of ``geared'' layers of Bergman polytopes from the projection techniques as well as from a huge patch. Under the assumption that no surface reconstruction takes place, this picture explains the Fibonacci-sequence of the step heights as well as the related structure in the terraces qualitatively and to certain extent even quantitatively. Furthermore, this layer-picture requires that the polytopes are cut in order to allow for the observed step heights. We conclude that Bergman or Mackay clusters have to be considered as geometric building blocks of the i-AlPdMn structure rather than as energetically stable entities

Optimizing the giant magnetoresistance of NiFe/Cu/Co pseudo spin-valves prepared by magnetron sputtering

We study the dependence of magnetic and magnetotransport properties of NiFe/Cu/Co pseudo spin-valves on the pressure of the Ar sputtering gas during magnetron deposition. The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) ratio as a function of the sputtering pressure behaves nonmonotonically with a maximum of about 4% at an intermediate pressure of 0.87x10(-2) mbar. Magneto-optic Kerr-effect measurements reveal different coercive fields and independent switching of the Co and NiFe layers. The structural characterization by x-ray scattering shows no significant pressure dependence. However, we observe by atomic force microscopy a variation of the grain structure with increasing sputtering pressure; the grain size first decreases and then the grains start clustering for highest pressures. The reduced coercive field and the lower GMR ratio indicate that the clustered grains have weaker magnetic pinning and increased spin-independent scattering. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics

Magnetic properties of Fe films and Fe/Si/fe trilayers grown on GaAs(001) and MgO(001) by ion-beam sputter epitaxy

We grow monocrystalline Fe(001) films and Fe/Si/Fe(001) trilayers by ion-beam sputter epitaxy on GaAs(001) and MgO(001) substrates. Ion-beam sputtering parameters such as substrate presputtering time, substrate temperature, beam voltage, and target angle are optimized for 10-nm-thick Fe(001) films with respect to epitaxial growth and magnetic properties. In situ low-energy electron diffraction patterns confirm the epitaxial and monocrystalline nature of the sputtered films, surprisingly even on untreated and thus oxidized substrates. The magneto-optical Kerr effect and ferromagnetic resonance are employed to investigate the magnetic properties, and the structural properties are characterized by atomic force microscopy and x-ray reflectivity measurements. Using the optimized set of parameters that yields the best magnetic properties for single Fe films on GaAs, we deposit epitaxial Fe/Si/Fe(001) structures and observe antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling for epitaxially sputtered Fe/Si/Fe(001) trilayers on GaAs(001). The total coupling strength reaches values of up to 2 mJ/m(2) at a Si thickness of 15 angstrom. (C) 2006 American Institute of Physics

Surface structure of a binary alloy in different states of order: The transformation between the amorphous and the crystalline phase

Amorphous $\rm Pd_{81}Si_{19}$ is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy before and after crystallization, and after additional laser-quenching. Distances between structural units on the amorphous surface are comparable to lattice spacings on the crystallized sample indicating partial preservation of the local structure during the phase transformation. After laser-quenching the crystallized sample, the surface structure is similar to that of the initial amorphous state proving on the nm scale the successful transformation of the surface layers back into the amorphous state