Joachim Gräfe

Application of magneto-optical Kerr effect to first-order reversal curve measurements

First-order reversal curves (FORC) are a powerful method for magnetic sample characterization, separating all magnetic states of an investigated system according to their coercivity and internal magnetic interactions. A major drawback of using measurement techniques like VSM or SQUID, typically applied for FORC acquisition, is the long measurement time, limiting the resolution and the number of measurements due to time constraints. Faster techniques like MOKE result in problems regarding measurement stability over the curse of the acquisition of many minor loops, due to drift and non-absolute magnetization values. Here, we present an approach using a specialized field shape providing two anchor points for each minor loop for applying the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) technique to FORC measurements. This results in a high field resolution while keeping the total acquisition time to only a few minutes. MOKE FORC measurements are exemplarily applied to a simple permalloy film, an exchange-bias system, and a Gd/Fe multilayer system with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, showcasing the versatility of the method.

Perpendicular magnetisation from in-plane fields in nano-scaled antidot lattices

Investigations of geometric frustrations in magnetic antidot lattices have led to the observation of interesting phenomena like spin-ice and magnetic monopoles. By using highly focused magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements and x-ray microscopy with magnetic contrast we deduce that geometrical frustration in these nanostructured thin film systems also leads to an out-of-plane magnetization from a purely in-plane applied magnetic field. For certain orientations of the antidot lattice, formation of perpendicular magnetic domains has been found with a size of several μm that may be used for an in-plane/out-of-plane transducer.

Pinned orbital moments – A new contribution to magnetic anisotropy

Reduced dimensionality and symmetry breaking at interfaces lead to unusual local magnetic configurations, such as glassy behavior, frustration or increased anisotropy. The interface between a ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet is such an example for enhanced symmetry breaking. Here we present detailed X-ray magnetic circular dichroism and X-ray resonant magnetic reflectometry investigations on the spectroscopic nature of uncompensated pinned magnetic moments in the antiferromagnetic layer of a typical exchange bias system. Unexpectedly, the pinned moments exhibit nearly pure orbital moment character. This strong orbital pinning mechanism has not been observed so far and is not discussed in literature regarding any theory for local magnetocrystalline anisotropy energies in magnetic systems. To verify this new phenomenon we investigated the effect at different temperatures. We provide a simple model discussing the observed pure orbital moments, based on rotatable spin magnetic moments and pinned orbital moments on the same atom. This unexpected observation leads to a concept for a new type of anisotropy energy.

Magnetic switching of nanoscale antidot lattices

Summary We investigate the rich magnetic switching properties of nanoscale antidot lattices in the 200 nm regime. In-plane magnetized Fe, Co, and Permalloy (Py) as well as out-of-plane magnetized GdFe antidot films are prepared by a modified nanosphere lithography allowing for non-close packed voids in a magnetic film. We present a magnetometry protocol based on magneto-optical Kerr microscopy elucidating the switching modes using first-order reversal curves. The combination of various magnetometry and magnetic microscopy techniques as well as micromagnetic simulations delivers a thorough understanding of the switching modes. While part of the investigations has been published before, we summarize these results and add significant new insights in the magnetism of exchange-coupled antidot lattices.

Transmission x-ray microscopy at low temperatures: Irregular supercurrent flow at small length scales

Scanning transmission x-ray microscopy has been used to image electric currents in superconducting films at temperatures down to 20 K. The magnetic stray field of supercurrents in a thin YBaCuO film is mapped into a soft-magnetic coating of permalloy. The so created local magnetization of the ferromagnetic film can be detected by dichroic absorption of polarized x-rays. To enable high-quality measurements in transmission geometry the whole heterostructure of ferromagnet, superconductor and singlecrystalline substrate has been thinned to an overall thickness of less than 1 μm. With this novel technique local supercurrents can be analyzed in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. A magnetic resolution of less than 100nm together with simultaneously obtained nanostructural data allow the correlation of local supercurrents with the microand nanostructure of the superconducting film.

Advanced magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements of superconductors at low temperatures

Magneto-optical Kerr-effect (MOKE) measurements of superconducting films with soft-magnetic coatings are performed at low temperatures using a laser-based MOKE set-up. An elaborate measurement scheme with internal reference allows the quantitative comparison of the temperature dependent Kerr-amplitude with the magnetic field generated by supercurrents. For this purpose, an amorphous CoFeB thin film exhibiting a large Kerr-signal is deposited directly on top of the YBCO superconductor acting as field sensing layer. It is shown that the resulting magnetic hysteresis loops of the soft-magnetic film can be used to reconstruct the electric properties of the superconductor.

Switching probabilities of magnetic vortex core reversal studied by table top magneto optic Kerr microscopy

We have studied vortex core reversal in a single submicron Permalloy disk by polar Kerr microscopy. A sophisticated lock-in-technique based on repetitive switching of the magnetic vortex core and a continuous calibration allows for a reliable determination of the switching probability. This highly sensitive method facilitates the detection of a change in the magnetic moment of the tiny magnetic vortex core which is about 1.5 × 10−17 A m2. We have investigated vortex core switching caused by excitation of the vortex core gyromode with varying frequencies and amplitudes. The frequency range in which switching occurs was found to broaden with increasing excitation amplitude, whereby the highest frequency in this range shifts stronger to higher frequencies than the lowest frequency to lower frequencies. The experimental results are in good agreement with micromagnetic simulations.

Combined FORC and X-ray microscopy study of magnetisation reversal in antidot lattices

Magnetic nanostructures, that are patterned on the length scale of the dipole and exchange interaction, have gained significant scientific interest in the past years. These nanostructures have great potential for technological applications in data processing and storage, and spintronics. Magnonic crystals are a class of such nanostructures and are metamaterials with periodically alternating magnetic properties - similar to photonic crystals. This periodic variation is achieved by creating holes in a magnetic host material to form a so-called antidot lattice. The introduction of the artificial antidot lattice changes the spin wave dispersion in the material and can be used to form a spin wave guide or filter. To tune the spin wave dispersion, understanding the magnetisation states and the static magnetic properties is of great importance. These static properties like the anisotropy, the coercivity and the orientation of the easy axes are determined by the hole size and distance, the antidot lattice symmetry and its orientation, and the magnetic host material. Here, we present new insights into the magnetisation reversal behaviour of nanoscaled hexagonal antidot lattices, patterned both in in-plane (Fe) and out-of-plane (GdFe) magnetised thin films. The antidots were prepared by polystyrene self-organisation lithography or FIB milling of the magnetic materials. An approach combining first-order reversal curve (FORC) measurements and x-ray microscopy (XM) with magnetic contrast was used to identify irreversible processes and to subsequently image their microscopic origin. Using a fast laser magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) based FORC technique, it was possible to individually measure specific sample areas (spatial resolution <;2 μm) and to compare a large number of samples. Subsequent XM investigations allowed to reproduce, localise, and quantify the magnetic states involved in the reversal processes.

XMCD studies of thin Co films on BaTiO3.

Different layer thicknesses of cobalt ranging from 2.6 Å (1.5 ML) up to 55 Å (30.5 ML) deposited on ferroelectric BaTiO3 have been studied regarding their magnetic behavior. The layers have been characterized using XMCD spectroscopy at remanent magnetization. After careful data analysis the magnetic moments of the cobalt could be determined using the sum rule formalism. There is a sudden and abrupt onset in magnetism starting at thicknesses of 9 Å (5 ML) of cobalt for measurements at 120 K and of 10 Å (5.5 ML) if measured at room temperature. Initial island growth and subsequent coalescence of Co on BaTiO3 is suggested to explain the sudden onset. In that context, no magnetically dead layers are observed.