F. Bohn

Universality beyond power laws and the average avalanche shape

Stefanos Papanikolaou, Felipe Bohn, 3 Rubem Luis Sommer, Gianfranco Durin, 5 Stefano Zapperi, 5 and James P. Sethna LASSP, Department of Physics, Clark Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2501 Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas F́ısicas, Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil INRIM, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Torino, Italy ISI Foundation, Viale S. Severo 65, 10133 Torino, Italy CNR-IENI, Via R. Cozzi 53, 20125 Milano, Italy LASSP, Physics Department, Clark Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-2501

Tailoring the magnetoimpedance effect of NiFe/Ag multilayer

The magnetoimpedance (MI) effect was investigated in NiFe/Ag multilayered (ML) and ML/SiO2/Ag/SiO2/ML structured multilayered (SD) ferromagnetic films grown by magnetron sputtering. The MI measurements were performed with an impedance analyzer over a wide frequency range, from 10 MHz to 1.8 GHz. Sample geometries are mainly responsible for the different MI behaviours and by considering the entire frequency range, distinct mechanisms responsible for MI changes were associated. For the ML sample, a maximum value of 80%, associated with the appearance of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR), was reached at around 1 GHz. For the SD sample, the striking feature is the existence of two distinct frequency ranges with high MI% values of 80% at around 100 MHz, related to the skin and magnetoinductive effects, and of 120% at around 1 GHz, associated with the strong skin and FMR effect.

Wide frequency range magnetoimpedance in tri-layered thin NiFe/Ag/NiFe films: Experiment and numerical calculation

Given that the magnetoinductive effect (MI), skin effect and ferromagnetic resonance influence magnetic permeability behavior at different frequency ranges, the description of the magnetoimpedance effect over a wide range of frequency becomes a difficult task. To that end, we perform an experimental investigation of the magnetoimpedance effect in a tri-layered thin film over a wide frequency range. We compare the experimental results for a tri-layered thin film with numerical calculus performed using an approach that considers a magnetic transverse susceptibility model for planar systems and an appropriate magnetoimpedance model for a tri-layered system together. The results show remarkably good agreement between numerical calculus and experimental measurements. Thus, we discuss the experimental results in terms of different mechanisms that govern the MI changes observed in distinct frequency ranges and provide experimental support to confirm the validity of the theoretical approach.

Angular dependence of asymmetric magnetoimpedance in exchange biased NiFe/IrMn multilayers

We investigate the angular dependence of asymmetric magnetoimpedance of NiFe/IrMn multilayers and explore the possibility of tuning the linear region of the magnetoimpedance curves by modifying the angle between the applied external magnetic field and exchange bias field, and probe current frequency. We quantify the sensitivity by calculating the ratio |ΔZ|/|ΔH| at low magnetic fields as a function of the frequency for samples cut with different orientations and show that considerable values in the linear region around zero field can be reached. The results extend the possibilities for application of exchange biased magnetoimpedance multilayers as probe element for the development and improvement of auto-biased linear magnetic field sensors.

Magnetoimpedance effect at the high frequency range for the thin film geometry: Numerical calculation and experiment

The magnetoimpedance effect is a versatile tool to investigate ferromagnetic materials, revealing aspects on the fundamental physics associated to magnetization dynamics, broadband magnetic properties, important issues for current and emerging technological applications for magnetic sensors, as well as insights on ferromagnetic resonance effect at non-saturated magnetic states. Here, we perform a theoretical and experimental investigation of the magnetoimpedance effect for the thin film geometry in a wide frequency range. We calculate the longitudinal magnetoimpedance for single layered, multilayered or exchange biased systems from an approach that considers a magnetic permeability model for planar geometry and the appropriate magnetic free energy density for each structure. From numerical calculations and experimental results found in literature, we analyze the magnetoimpedance behavior, and discuss the main features and advantages of each structure. To test the robustness of the approach, we directly compare theoretical results with experimental magnetoimpedance measurements obtained in a wide range of frequencies for an exchange biased multilayered film. Thus, we provide experimental evidence to confirm the validity of the theoretical approach employed to describe the magnetoimpedance in ferromagnetic films, revealed by the good agreement between numerical calculations and experimental results.

Magnetization dynamics in nanostructures with weak/strong anisotropy

We investigate the high-frequency response of magnetization dynamics through magnetoimpedance (MI) effect in Permalloy-based multilayered thin films produced with two different non-magnetic metallic spacers: Cu and Ag. Due to the nature of the spacer materials, we are able to play with magnetic properties and to study both systems with weak/strong magnetic anisotropy. We verify very rich features in the magnetoimpedance behavior and high magnetoimpedance ratios, with values above 200%. We compare the MI results obtained in multilayered thin films with distinct spacers and number of bilayers, and discuss them in terms of the different mechanisms that govern the MI changes observed at distinct frequency ranges, intensity of the magnetic anisotropy, alignment between dc magnetic field and anisotropy direction. Besides, by considering a theoretical approach that takes into account two single models together and calculate the transverse magnetic permeability and the MI effect, we support our interpretation via...

Quantifying magnetic anisotropy dispersion : theoretical and experimental study of the magnetic properties of anisotropic FeCuNbSiB ferromagnetic films

The Stoner-Wohlfarth model is a traditional and efficient tool to calculate magnetization curves and it can provides further insights on the fundamental physics associated to the magnetic properties and magnetization dynamics. Here, we perform a theoretical and experimental investigation of the quasi-static magnetic properties of anisotropic systems. We consider a theoretical approach which corresponds to a modified version of the Stoner-Wohlfarth model to describe anisotropic systems and a distribution function to express the magnetic anistropy dispersion. We propose a procedure to calculate the magnetic properties for the anisotropic case of the SW model from experimental results of the quadrature of magnetization curves, thus quantifying the magnetic anisotropy dispersion. To test the robustness of the approach, we apply the theoretical model to describe the quasi-static magnetic properties of amorphous FeCuNbSiB ferromagnetic films. We perform calculations and directly compare theoretical results with longitudinal and transverse magnetization curves measured for the films. Thus, our results provide experimental evidence to confirm the validity of the theoretical approach to describe the magnetic properties of anisotropic amorphous ferromagnetic films, revealed by the excellent agreement between numerical calculation and experimental results.

High frequency magnetic behavior through the magnetoimpedance effect in CoFeB/ (Ta, Ag, Cu) multilayered ferromagnetic thin films

Abstract We investigate the structural and magnetic properties and the magnetoimpedance effect of CoFeB/(Ta, Ag, Cu) multilayered thin films grown by magnetron sputtering. It is noticed that the peak of maximum magnetoimpedance ratio values for a given frequency, as well as its position in frequency, is varied according to the used non-magnetic metal. For the CoFeB/Ta and CoFeB/Ag multilayered films, peaks of 30% and 27%, respectively, are observed at localized frequency ranges. For the CoFeB/Cu multilayer, slightly smaller values are verified, but for a wide frequency range. The magnetoimpedance results are analyzed in terms of the mechanisms responsible for the impedance variations at different frequency ranges and the magnetic and structural properties of the multilayer.

Magnetization Dynamics Through Magnetoimpedance Effect in Isotropic Co2FeAl/Au/Co2FeAl Full-Heusler Alloy Trilayer Films

We investigate the magnetization dynamics in low damping parameter α systems by measuring the magnetoimpedance effect over a wide range of frequencies, from 0.1 to 3.0 GHz, in Co2FeAl/Au/Co2FeAl full-Heusler alloy trilayer films grown by magnetron sputtering on glass and MgO substrates. We show that the film produced on the glass substrate presents high magnetoimpedance performance, while that grown on the MgO substrate has low magnetoimpedance performance. Since both films are polycrystalline and have isotropic in-plane magnetic properties, we interpret the magnetoimpedance results in terms of the low damping parameter α and strain effects in the films. Thus, we verified that our films present good magnetoimpedance performance and showed that high performance can be achieved even in films with isotropic in-plane magnetic properties, since they present low damping parameter α.

Statistical properties of Barkhausen noise in amorphous ferromagnetic films.

We investigate the statistical properties of the Barkhausen noise in amorphous ferromagnetic films with thicknesses in the range between 100 and 1000 nm. From Barkhausen noise time series measured with the traditional inductive technique, we perform a wide statistical analysis and establish the scaling exponents τ,α,1/σνz, and ϑ. We also focus on the average shape of the avalanches, which gives further indications on the domain-wall dynamics. Based on experimental results, we group the amorphous films in a single universality class, characterized by scaling exponents τ=1.28±0.02,α=1.52±0.3, and 1/σνz=ϑ=1.83±0.03, values compatible with that obtained for several bulk amorphous magnetic materials. Besides, we verify that the avalanche shape depends on the universality class. By considering the theoretical models for the dynamics of a ferromagnetic domain wall driven by an external magnetic field through a disordered medium found in literature, we interpret the results and identify an experimental evidence that these amorphous films, within this thickness range, present a typical three-dimensional magnetic behavior with predominant short-range elastic interactions governing the domain-wall dynamics. Moreover, we provide experimental support for the validity of a general scaling form for the average avalanche shape for non-mean-field systems.