Satoshi Iihama

Fast magnetization precession observed in L10-FePt epitaxial thin film

Fast magnetization precession is observed in L10-FePt alloy epitaxial thin films excited and detected by all-optical means. The precession frequency varies from 45 to 65 GHz depending on the applied magnetic field strength and direction, which can be explained by a uniform precession model taking account of first- and second-order uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. The lowest effective Gilbert damping constant has a minimum value of 0.055, which is about half that in Co/Pt multilayers and is comparable to Ni/Co multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

Fabrication of L10-MnAl perpendicularly magnetized thin films for perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

Structural and magnetic properties of MnAl thin films with different composition, growth temperature, and post-annealing temperature were investigated. The optimum condition for fabrication of L10-MnAl perpendicularly magnetized thin film deposited on Cr-buffered MgO single crystal substrate was revealed. The results of x ray diffraction indicated that the MnAl films annealed at proper temperature had a (001)-orientation and L10-ordered structure. The L10-ordered films were perpendicularly magnetized and had a large perpendicular anisotropy. In addition, low surface roughness was achieved. For the optimized fabrication condition, the saturation magnetization Ms of 600 emu/cm3 and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Ku of 1.0 × 107 erg/cm3 was obtained using the Mn48Al52 target at deposition temperature of 200 °C and post-annealing temperature of 450 °C.

Effect of Mg interlayer on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of CoFeB films in MgO/Mg/CoFeB/Ta structure

The effects of Mg metallic interlayer on the magnetic properties of thin CoFeB films in MgO/Mg (tMg)/CoFeB (1.2 nm)/Ta structures were studied in this letter. Our experimental result shows that the CoFeB film exhibits perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) when the CoFeB and MgO layers are separated by a metallic Mg layer with a maximum thickness of 0.8 nm. The origin of PMA was discussed by considering the preferential transmission of the Δ1 symmetry preserved by the Mg interlayer in crystallized MgO/Mg/CoFeB/Ta. In addition, the thin Mg interlayer also contributes to enhancing the thermal stability and reducing the effective damping constant and coercivity of the CoFeB film.

Damping of Magnetization Precession in Perpendicularly Magnetized CoFeB Alloy Thin Films

Gilbert damping is investigated in perpendicularly magnetized CoFeB thin films using ferromagnetic resonance and time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect. The CoFeB films were deposited on a MgO layer and annealed at different temperatures. The lowest effective damping constant αeff values were 0.017, 0.013, and 0.009 for the films annealed at 250, 300, and 350 °C, respectively; these values were smaller than the values reported previously.

Low precessional damping observed for L10-ordered FePd epitaxial thin films with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

High-quality L10 ordered 20 nm-thick FePd epitaxial thin films with a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy were fabricated using a SrTiO3 substrate. The uniaxial crystalline magnetic anisotropy constant Ku evaluated for the films annealed above 500 °C was 14 Merg/cm3. A very low effective damping constant, αeff = 0.007, was observed for FePd thin films annealed at 500 °C. This value is smaller than that of other Fe-based ordered alloys with a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

Observation of Precessional Magnetization Dynamics in L10-FePt Thin Films with Different L10 Order Parameter Values

Fast magnetization precession was observed in L10-FePt thin films with different L10 order parameter values by all optical pump–probe technique. Precession frequency was varied widely for the films with different order parameter, which is due to large difference in perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Gilbert damping constant (α) was estimated from relaxation time as apparent damping. Clear difference in α was not observed with different perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.

Laser-induced THz magnetization precession for a tetragonal Heusler-like nearly compensated ferrimagnet

Laser-induced magnetization precessional dynamics was investigated in epitaxial films of Mn

Electrical detection of millimeter-waves by magnetic tunnel junctions using perpendicular magnetized L10-FePd free layer.

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Magnetization damping of an L10-FeNi thin film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Ge, which is a tetragonal Heusler-like nearly compensated ferrimagnet. The ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) mode was observed, the precession frequency for which exceeded 0.5 THz and originated from the large magnetic anisotropy field of approximately 200 kOe for this ferrimagnet. The effective damping constant was approximately 0.03. The corresponding effective Landau-Lifshitz constant of approximately 60 Mrad/s and is comparable to those of the similar Mn-Ga materials. The physical mechanisms for the Gilbert damping and for the laser-induced excitation of the FMR mode were also discussed in terms of the spin-orbit-induced damping and the laser-induced ultrafast modulation of the magnetic anisotropy, respectively.

Quantification of a propagating spin-wave packet created by an ultrashort laser pulse in a thin film of a magnetic metal

Spin dynamics excited by spin-polarized current in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) is potentially useful in nanoscale electrical oscillation sources and detection devices. A spin oscillator/detector should work at a high frequency, such as that of a millimeter-wave, where the quality of a semiconductor device is restricted by carrier mobility, the CR time constant, and so on. Developers of spin systems for practical use need to find out how to excite spin dynamics (i) in the millimeter-wave region, (ii) with low power consumption (ex: no external magnetic field, low damping material), and (iii) for broad frequency modulation. Here L10-ordered FePd alloy with perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy (PMA) and a low damping constant, 0.007, was used for the free layer in the MTJs, and a homodyne-detected ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) signal was obtained at around 30 GHz together with the possibility of one-octave frequency modulation. The FMR signal in out-of-plane magnetized L10-ordered FePd free layer could be excited without an external magnetic field by injecting in-plane spin polarized alternating current. This study shows the potential utility of L10-ordered alloy materials such as FePt, CoPt, MnAl, and MnGa in a variety of millimeter-wave spin devices.