X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism studies of L1{sub 0}-Mn-Ga thin films

Journal Article · Thu Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4827377· OSTI ID:22259292

Sterwerf, C.; Schmalhorst, J. M.; Reiss, G. ^[1]; Ebke, D. ^[1]; Jenkins, C.; Arenholz, E. ^[2]

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1. Thin Films and Physics of Nanostructures, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld (Germany)
2. ALS Berkeley, California 94720-8229 (United States)

Tetragonally distorted Mn{sub 3−x}Ga{sub x} thin films with 0.1<2 show a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and low magnetization and thus have the potential to serve as electrodes in spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory. Because a direct capping of these films with MgO is problematic due to oxide formation, we examined the influence of a CoFeB interlayer and of two different deposition methods for the MgO barrier on the formation of interfacial Mn-O for Mn{sub 62}Ga{sub 38} by element specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). A highly textured L1{sub 0} crystal structure of the Mn-Ga films was verified by X-ray diffraction measurements. For samples with e-beam evaporated MgO barrier no evidence for Mn-O was found whereas in samples with magnetron sputtered MgO, Mn-O was detected, even for the thickest interlayer thickness. Both XAS and XMCD measurements showed an increasing interfacial Mn-O amount with decreasing CoFeB interlayer thickness. Additional element specific full hysteresis loops determined an out-of-plane magnetization axis for the Mn and Co, respectively.

• OSTI ID: 22259292
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 114, Issue 18; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ANISOTROPY
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIFFUSION BARRIERS
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON BEAMS
HYSTERESIS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM
MAGNETIZATION
MAGNETRONS
SPIN
SPUTTERING
THICKNESS
THIN FILMS
VENTILATION BARRIERS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY