M.A. Corrêa

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.

Tunable asymmetric magnetoimpedance effect in ferromagnetic NiFe/Cu/Co films

We investigate the magnetization dynamics through the magnetoimpedance effect in ferromagnetic NiFe/Cu/Co films. We observe that the magnetoimpedance response is dependent on the thickness of the non-magnetic Cu spacer material. We verify asymmetric magnetoimpedance in films with biphase magnetic behavior and explore the possibility of tuning the linear region of the magnetoimpedance curves around zero magnetic field by varying the thickness of the spacer and probe current frequency. We discuss the experimental results in terms of the different mechanisms governing the magnetization dynamics at distinct frequency ranges, quasi-static magnetic properties, thickness of the spacer, and the kind of the magnetic interaction between the ferromagnetic layers. The results place films with biphase magnetic behavior exhibiting asymmetric magnetoimpedance effect as very attractive candidates for application as probe element in the development 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.

Static and dynamic properties of Fibonacci multilayers

We theoretically investigate static and dynamic properties of quasiperiodic magnetic multilayers. We considered identical ferromagnetic layers separated by non-magnetic spacers with two different thicknesses chosen based on the Fibonacci sequence. Using parameters for Fe/Cr, the minimum energy was determined and the equilibrium magnetization directions found were used to calculate magnetoresistance curves. Regarding dynamic behavior, ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) curves were calculated using an approximation known from the literature. Our numerical results illustrate the effects of quasiperiodicity on the static and dynamic properties of these structures.

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.