Control of magnetic anisotropy in (111)SmAl{sub 2} films
- Laboratoire de Physique des Materiaux, Universite H. Poincare Nancy I, BP 239, 54506 Vandoeuvre les Nancy cedex (France)
This study enlightens how the magnetic anisotropy might be tailored in magnetic films by the proper choice of the substrate. Single crystalline (111)SmAl{sub 2} films have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy on two substrates: (1120)Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and (111)CaF{sub 2}. Hysteresis loops measured along the different crystallographic directions are the signature of the following: (i) a uniaxial anisotropy with an easy direction perpendicular to the (111) growth plane when the film is grown on Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}; (ii) a [111] hard magnetic direction when the film is grown on CaF{sub 2}. This effect can be understood if we consider the influence of the thermal strains on the various energy terms which govern the easy magnetization direction. The relevant parameters to determine the easy magnetization direction are the relative sign and absolute values of the strains and of the magnetoelastic constants.
- OSTI ID:
- 21137322
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Applied Physics Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 103; ISSN JAPIAU; ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Strong uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in CoFe films on obliquely sputtered Ru underlayer
Spatial modulation of in-plane magnetic anisotropy in epitaxial Co(111) films grown on macrostep-bunched Si(111)