F. Nolting

Reaching the magnetic anisotropy limit of a 3d metal atom

Maximizing atomic magnetic memory A study of the magnetic response of cobalt atoms adsorbed on oxide surfaces may lead to much denser storage of data. In hard drives, data are stored as magnetic bits; the magnetic field pointing up or down corresponds to storing a zero or a one. The smallest bit possible would be a single atom, but the magnetism of a single atom —its spin—has to be stabilized by interactions with heavy elements or surfaces through an effect called spin-orbit coupling. Rau et al. (see the Perspective by Khajetoorians and Wiebe) built a model system in pursuit of single-atom bits—cobalt atoms adsorbed on magnesium oxide. At temperatures approaching absolute zero, the stabilization of the spins magnetic direction reached the maximum that is theoretically possible. Science, this issue p. 988; see also p. 976 A cobalt atom bound to a single oxygen site on magnesia has the maximum magnetic anisotropy allowed for a transition metal [Also see Perspective by Khajetoorians and Wiebe] Designing systems with large magnetic anisotropy is critical to realize nanoscopic magnets. Thus far, the magnetic anisotropy energy per atom in single-molecule magnets and ferromagnetic films remains typically one to two orders of magnitude below the theoretical limit imposed by the atomic spin-orbit interaction. We realized the maximum magnetic anisotropy for a 3d transition metal atom by coordinating a single Co atom to the O site of an MgO(100) surface. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals a record-high zero-field splitting of 58 millielectron volts as well as slow relaxation of the Co atom’s magnetization. This striking behavior originates from the dominating axial ligand field at the O adsorption site, which leads to out-of-plane uniaxial anisotropy while preserving the gas-phase orbital moment of Co, as observed with x-ray magnetic circular dichroism.

Head-to-head domain-wall phase diagram in mesoscopic ring magnets

The nanoscale spin structure of head-to-head domain walls in mesoscopic ferromagnetic rings has been studied by high-resolution nonintrusive photoemission electron microscopy as a function of both ring width (100–730 nm) and film thickness (2–38 nm). Depending on the geometry, two types of head-to-head domain walls are found (vortex and transverse walls). The experimental phase diagram, which identifies the transition between the wall types, is compared to analytical calculations of the energy and micromagnetic simulations, which are found to agree well with the experimental results.

Observation of thermally activated domain wall transformations

The spin structure of head-to-head domain walls in Ni80Fe20 structures is studied using high-resolution photoemission electron microscopy. The quantitative phase diagram is extracted from these measurements and found to exhibit two phase boundaries between vortex and transverse domain walls. The results are compared with available theoretical predictions and micromagnetic simulations and differences to the experiment are explained, taking into account thermal excitations. Temperature-dependent measurements show a thermally activated transformation of transverse to vortex domain walls in 7 nm thick and 730 nm wide structures at a transition temperature between 260 °C and 310 °C, which corresponds to a nucleation barrier height for a vortex wall between 6.7×10−21J and 8.0×10−21J.

Arrays of nanoscale magnetic dots: Fabrication by x-ray interference lithography and characterization

X-ray interference lithography (XIL) was employed in combination with electrodeposition to fabricate arrays of nanoscale nickel dots which are uniform over 40μm and have periods down to 71nm. Using extreme-ultraviolet light, XIL has the potential to produce magnetic dot arrays over large areas with periods well below 50nm, and down to a theoretical limit of 6.5nm for a 13nm x-ray wavelength. In the nickel dot arrays, we observed the effect of interdot magnetic stray field interactions. Measuring the hysteresis loops using the magneto-optical Kerr effect, a double switching via the vortex state was observed in the nickel dots with diameters down to 44nm and large dot separations. As the dot separations are reduced to below around 50nm a single switching, occurring by collective rotation of the magnetic spins, is favored due to interdot magnetic stray field interactions. This results in magnetic flux closure through several dots which could be visualized with micromagnetic simulations. Further evidence of t...

Direct observation of a ferri-to-ferromagnetic transition in a fluoride-bridged 3d–4f molecular cluster

We report on the synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic characterisation of the trinuclear, fluoride-bridged, molecular nanomagnet [Dy(hfac)3(H2O)–CrF2(py)4–Dy(hfac)3(NO3)] (1) (hfacH = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone, py = pyridine) and a closely related dinuclear species [Dy(hfac)4–CrF2(py)4]·½CHCl3 (2). Element-specific magnetisation curves obtained on 1 by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) allow us to directly observe the field-induced transition from a ferrimagnetic to a ferromagnetic arrangement of the Dy and Cr magnetic moments. By fitting a spin-Hamiltonian model to the XMCD data we extract a weak antiferromagnetic exchange coupling of j = −0.18 cm−1 between the DyIII and CrIII ions. The value found from XMCD is consistent with SQUID magnetometry and inelastic neutron scattering measurements. Furthermore, alternating current susceptibility and muon-spin relaxation measurements reveal that 1 shows thermally activated relaxation of magnetisation with a small effective barrier for magnetisation reversal of Δeff = 3 cm−1. Density-functional theory calculations show that the Dy–Cr couplings originate from superexchange via the fluoride bridges.

Performance measurements at the SLS SIM beamline

The Surface/Interface: Microscopy beamline of the Swiss Light Source started operation in 2001. In 2007 the beamline has been significantly upgraded with a second refocusing section and a blazed grating optimized for high photon flux. Two Apple II type undulators with a plane grating monochromator using the collimated light scheme deliver photons with an energy from 90eV to about 2keV with variable polarization for the photoemission electron microscope (PEEM) as the primary user station. We measured a focus of (45×60) μm(ν×h) and a photon flux > 1012 photon/s for all gratings. Polarization switching within a few seconds is realized with the small bandpass of the monochromator and a slight detuning of the undulator.

X-ray photoemission electron microscopy, a tool for the investigation of complex magnetic structures.

X-ray Photoemission Electron Microscopy unites the chemical specificity and magnetic sensitivity of soft x-ray absorption techniques with the high spatial resolution of electron microscopy. The discussed instrument possesses a spatial resolution of better than 50 nm and is located at a bending magnet beamline at the Advanced Light Source, providing linearly and circularly polarized radiation between 250 and 1300 eV. We will present examples which demonstrate the power of this technique applied to problems in the field of thin film magnetism. The chemical and elemental specificity is of particular importance for the study of magnetic exchange coupling because it allows separating the signal of the different layers and interfaces in complex multi-layered structures.

Ammonia Coordination Introducing a Magnetic Moment in an On‐Surface Low‐Spin Porphyrin

Amazing ammonia: The molecular spin state of Ni(II) porphyrin, supported on a ferromagnetic Co surface, can be reversibly switched between spin-off (S = 0) and spin-on (S = 1) states upon coordination and decoordination of the gaseous ligand NH3, respectively (see picture). This finding clearly indicates the possible use of the system as a single-molecule-based magnetochemical sensor and in spintronics.

Nanoscale sub-100 picosecond all-optical magnetization switching in GdFeCo microstructures.

Ultrafast magnetization reversal driven by femtosecond laser pulses has been shown to be a promising way to write information. Seeking to improve the recording density has raised intriguing fundamental questions about the feasibility of combining ultrafast temporal resolution with sub-wavelength spatial resolution for magnetic recording. Here we report on the experimental demonstration of nanoscale sub-100 ps all-optical magnetization switching, providing a path to sub-wavelength magnetic recording. Using computational methods, we reveal the feasibility of nanoscale magnetic switching even for an unfocused laser pulse. This effect is achieved by structuring the sample such that the laser pulse, via both refraction and interference, focuses onto a localized region of the structure, the position of which can be controlled by the structural design. Time-resolved photo-emission electron microscopy studies reveal that nanoscale magnetic switching employing such focusing can be pushed to the sub-100 ps regime.Abstract The recently discovered magnetization reversal driven solely by a femtosecond laser pulse hasbeen shown to be a promising way to record information at record breaking speeds. Seeking toimprove the recording density has raised intriguing fundamental question about the feasibility tocombine the ultrafast temporal with sub-wavelength spatial resolution of magnetic recording. Herewe report about the rst experimental demonstration of sub-di raction and sub-100 ps all-opticalmagnetic switching. Using computational methods we reveal the feasibility of sub-di raction mag-netic switching even for an unfocused incoming laser pulse. This e ect is achieved via structuringthe sample such that the laser pulse experiences a passive wavefront shaping as it couples andpropagates inside the magnetic structure. Time-resolved studies with the help of photo-emissionelectron microscopy clearly reveal that the sub-wavelength switching with the help of the passivewave-front shaping can be pushed into sub-100 ps regime.

Demonstration of laser induced magnetization reversal in gdfeco nanostructures

Magnetization switching by a single femtosecond laser heat pulse is demonstrated for out-of-plane domains with sizes down to 200 nm in GdFeCo nanostructures. A complex magnetic domain configuration was revealed with a photoemission electron microscope employing x-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Fe L3 edge and consisted of in-plane magnetized rims and out-of-plane domains, which results from the structuring process. No influence of this complex domain pattern on the switching efficiency of the structures was detected, constituting an important step towards the application of laser induced magnetization switching in storage devices.