In-plane Uniaxial Anisotropy and Magnetization Reversal Mechanism of FeCo Films by Strip Pattern

doi:10.1007/s40195-014-0131-6

Abstract

Abstract:

Strip-like FeCo films were patterned by a traditional lithograph process from intrinsically isotropic continuous FeCo films. The strip-patterned FeCo film shows a strong in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with easy axis along the length direction of the strip. The angular dependences of remanence ratio, switching field, and coercivity indicate that the magnetization reversal mechanism of the strip-patterned FeCo film is coherent rotation and domain wall depinning when the applied field is near the hard axis and easy axis, respectively. The consistency of the experimental hysteresis loops of the strip-patterned FeCo film and calculated hysteresis loops with a simple in-plane uniaxial anisotropy model indicates that the strip-patterned FeCo film behaves as a single domain. The absence of the domain wall and the strong in-plane anisotropy field make the strip-patterned FeCo films have much potential for high-frequency application.

Key words: In-plane anisotropy, FeCo film, Strip patterned, Switching field

Han Xuemeng, Ma Jinhua, Wang Zhen, Zuo Yalu, Xi Li. In-plane Uniaxial Anisotropy and Magnetization Reversal Mechanism of FeCo Films by Strip Pattern[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2014, 27(6): 1099-1104.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 Optical image of the strip-patterned FeCo film a and the coordinate system with x axis parallel to the length direction of strips and y axis perpendicular to the length direction b

Fig. 2 In-plane hysteresis loops of strip-patterned FeCo film with magnetic field in different directions: a ϕ = 0°; b ϕ = 40°; c ϕ = 60°; d ϕ = 75°; e ϕ = 85°; f ϕ = 90°

Fig. 3 Angular dependences of in-plane remanence ratio (solid squares), reduced remanence ratio (open circles), and a |cosϕ| dependence curve (red line)

Fig. 4 Normalized Kerr loops of one FeCo strip with laser spot focused on the middle a and end b parts of a strip

Fig. 5 Angular dependence of switching fields

Fig. 6 Angular dependence of coercivity H c

Fig. 7 Calculated (red line) and experimental (open squares) hysteresis loops at ϕ = 40° a, 60° b, 75° c of strip-patterned FeCo film

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