Radu Abrudan

Development of magnetic moments in Fe1 − xNix-alloys

We have investigated the magnetic properties of Fe1−x Nix -alloys for 13 different compositions ranging from pure Fe to pure Ni. The alloy series was prepared as thin films by co-deposition of Fe and Ni via ultra-high vacuum magnetron sputtering and the concentrations were determined by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis (EDX). The averaged magnetization and magnetic moment were measured at room temperature using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Making use of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), the individual magnetic moments of Fe and Ni across the alloy concentration range were analyzed; thus their spin and orbital contributions were extracted. The weighted sum of the individual moments agrees very well with the average moments determined via SQUID and VSM. The Ni moment steadily increases from the pure Ni towards to the pure Fe range, while the Fe moment scatters around a value of about 2.4 μB. Close to the invar composition of x = 0.35 we do not observe an anomaly of the magnetic moments, either of the individual moments or of the average moment. We also discuss different assumptions for the analysis of the XMCD spectra and assess the results in the light of recent theoretical predictions and literature values. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

Precessional damping of Fe magnetic moments in a FeNi film

We report on the element-resolved precessional dynamics of Fe magnetic moments in a homogeneous FeNi thin film. In our pump?probe experiment the magnetic system is excited by a magnetic field pulse from a stripline. The instantaneous response to the field-pulse excitation is monitored as a function of time in a stroboscopic measurement using element-selective x-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS). Our data show that Fe and Ni moments are aligned parallel to each other at all times, while they oscillate around the effective field direction given by the step field pulse and applied bias field. The field dependence of the precessional motion and damping of Fe magnetic moments is analysed and compared with time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect (tr-MOKE) measurement data from the literature, showing good agreement.Additional studies prove the capability of our setup to conduct temperature-dependent studies. In the case of the presented FeNi system no changes in the frequency or damping behaviour are observed within a temperature range of 150?350?K.

Manipulating topological states by imprinting non-collinear spin textures

Topological magnetic states, such as chiral skyrmions, are of great scientific interest and show huge potential for novel spintronics applications, provided their topological charges can be fully controlled. So far skyrmionic textures have been observed in noncentrosymmetric crystalline materials with low symmetry and at low temperatures. We propose theoretically and demonstrate experimentally the design of spin textures with topological charge densities that can be tailored at ambient temperatures. Tuning the interlayer coupling in vertically stacked nanopatterned magnetic heterostructures, such as a model system of a Co/Pd multilayer coupled to Permalloy, the in-plane non-collinear spin texture of one layer can be imprinted into the out-of-plane magnetised material. We observe distinct spin textures, e.g. vortices, magnetic swirls with tunable opening angle, donut states and skyrmion core configurations. We show that applying a small magnetic field, a reliable switching between topologically distinct textures can be achieved at remanence.

ALICE—An advanced reflectometer for static and dynamic experiments in magnetism at synchrotron radiation facilities

We report on significant developments of a high vacuum reflectometer (diffractometer) and spectrometer for soft x-ray synchrotron experiments which allows conducting a wide range of static and dynamic experiments. Although the chamber named ALICE was designed for the analysis of magnetic hetero- and nanostructures via resonant magnetic x-ray scattering, the instrument is not limited to this technique. The versatility of the instrument was testified by a series of pilot experiments. Static measurements involve the possibility to use scattering and spectroscopy synchrotron based techniques (photon-in photon-out, photon-in electron-out, and coherent scattering). Dynamic experiments require either laser or magnetic field pulses to excite the spin system followed by x-ray probe in the time domain from nano- to femtosecond delay times. In this temporal range, the demagnetization/remagnetization dynamics and magnetization precession in a number of magnetic materials (metals, alloys, and magnetic multilayers) can be probed in an element specific manner. We demonstrate here the capabilities of the system to host a variety of experiments, featuring ALICE as one of the most versatile and demanded instruments at the Helmholtz Center in Berlin-BESSY II synchrotron center in Berlin, Germany.

The effect of annealing on the junction profile of CoFeB/MgO tunnel junctions

The tunnelling magnetoresistance of CoFeB/MgO tunnel junctions is exceptionally high, although the electrodes and the barrier are grown at room temperature in the amorphous state. For their functionality annealing steps up to high temperatures are required. We have analyzed in detail the changes in the chemical and magnetization profile upon annealing up to 360°. The multilayers used for this study are similar to those which are used in magnetic tunnel junctions, however with five repeats. In particular, we have used hard non-resonant and soft resonant magnetic x-ray scattering in order to unravel any changes upon annealing. The multilayers exhibit superior structural quality, which hardly changes with annealing. Surprisingly, only little recrystallization of the CoFeB and the MgO layers can be discerned by x-ray diffraction.

Enhanced spin-orbit coupling in tetragonally strained Fe-Co-B films

Tetragonally strained interstitial Fe-Co-B alloys were synthesized as epitaxial films grown on a 20 nm thick Au0.55Cu0.45 buffer layer. Different ratios of the perpendicular to in-plane lattice constant c/a  =  1.013, 1.034 and 1.02 were stabilized by adding interstitial boron with different concentrations 0, 4, and 10 at.%, respectively. Using ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) we found that the total orbital magnetic moment significantly increases with increasing c/a ratio, indicating that reduced crystal symmetry and interstitial B leads to a noticeable enhancement of the effect of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in the Fe-Co-B alloys. First-principles calculations reveal that the increase in orbital magnetic moment mainly originates from B impurities in octahedral position and the reduced symmetry around B atoms. These findings offer the possibility to enhance SOC phenomena-namely the magnetocrystalline anisotropy and the orbital moment-by stabilizing anisotropic strain by doping 4 at.% B. Results on the influence of B doping on the Fe-Co film microstructure, their coercive field and magnetic relaxation are also presented.

Ultrafast Magnetism as Seen by X-rays

Revealing the ultimate speed limit at which magnetic order can be controlled, is a fundamental challenge of modern magnetism having far reaching implications for magnetic recording industry. Exchange interaction is the strongest force in magnetism, being responsible for ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic spin order. How do spins react after being optically perturbed on an ultrashort timescales pertinent to the characteristic time of the exchange interaction? Here we demonstrate that femtosecond measurements of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism provide revolutionary new insights into the problem of ultrafast magnetism. In particular, we show that upon femtosecond optical excitation the ultrafast spin reversal of Gd(FeCo) - a material with antiferromagnetic coupling of spins - occurs via a transient ferromagnetic state. The latter one emerges due to different dynamics of Gd and Fe magnetic moments: Gd switches within 1.5 ps while it takes only 300 fs for Fe. Thus, by using a single fs laser pulse one can force the spin system to evolve via an energetically unfavorable way and temporary switch from an antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic type of ordering. These observations supported by atomistic simulations, present a novel concept of manipulating magnetic order on different classes of magnetic materials on timescales of the exchange interaction.

Exploration of precessional spin dynamics in magnetic multilayers

In this article, we present magnetization dynamics studies on magnetic multilayers using time resolved resonant magnetic x-ray scattering, which accesses both the frequency and the damping of the free magnetization precession. Here, we compare two multilayers with ferromagnetic Py (Py=Ni0.8Fe0.2) layers separated by conducting Cu layers and by non-conducting AlOx layers. Magnetic Bragg peaks from the multilayer are excited by tuning the circular polarized x-ray energy to the L2,3 resonant absorption edges of Fe and Ni in Py. The coherent precessional dynamics follows then from an analysis of the time dependent Bragg peak intensity after field pulse excitation. We find coherent precession of all magnetic layers within both multilayers and also the same precessional frequency, independent of the interlayer material. At the same time, the precessional damping is considerably different for Cu and AlOx as interlayer materials. Reasons for the enhanced damping in Py/Cu multilayers are discussed. Additional dept...

Engineering Ultrafast Magnetism

We employ time-resolved X-ray magnetic circular dichroism with fs time resolution to investigate the ultrafast, laser-driven dynamics of multi-sublattice materials, with both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling. These measurements provide evidence for a demagnetization time that scales with the elemental magnetic moment and varies with the exchange interaction symmetry.

Temperature and concentration dependent magnetic properties of epitaxial Fe1−xCrx-alloy films in the high Cr-concentration regime

Soft magnetic materials with a Curie temperature (Tc) close to room temperature are suitable candidates for device applications and for more fundamental aspects of magnetism. Promising candidates are Fe1−xCrx-alloys with a Fe concentration of about 25%–35%. We have grown by molecular beam epitaxy methods a number of epitaxial Fe1−xCrx alloys on MgO[100] and MgO[110] substrates, and we report on their structural and magnetic properties in this concentration range, including the dependence of the Curie temperature (Tc) on the concentration, the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, and the development of the magnetic moment.