Magnetic surface domain imaging of uncapped epitaxial FeRh(001) thin films across the temperature-induced metamagnetic transition

Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2016 · AIP Advances

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4940758· OSTI ID:22492408

Zhou, Xianzhong; Matthes, Frank; Schneider, Claus M. ^[1]

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1. Peter Grünberg Institut, Electronic Properties (PGI-6) and Jülich-Aachen Research Alliance, Fundamentals of Future Information Technology (JARA-FIT), Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425 Jülich (Germany)

The surface magnetic domain structure of uncapped epitaxial FeRh/MgO(001) thin films was imaged by in-situ scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA) at various temperatures between 122 and 450 K. This temperature range covers the temperature-driven antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition in the body of the films that was observed in-situ by means of the more depth-sensitive magneto-optical Kerr effect. The SEMPA images confirm that the interfacial ferromagnetism coexisting with the antiferromagnetic phase inside the film is an intrinsic property of the FeRh(001) surface. Furthermore, the SEMPA data display a reduction of the in-plane magnetization occuring well above the phase transition temperature which, thus, is not related to the volume expansion at the phase transition. This observation is interpreted as a spin reorientation of the surface magnetization for which we propose a possible mechanism based on temperature-dependent tetragonal distortion due to different thermal expansion coefficients of MgO and FeRh.

• OSTI ID: 22492408
• Journal Information: AIP Advances, Vol. 6, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2158-3226
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
EPITAXY
FERROMAGNETISM
IRON ALLOYS
KERR EFFECT
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MAGNETIC SURFACES
MAGNETIZATION
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POLARIZATION
RHODIUM ALLOYS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SPIN
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL EXPANSION
THIN FILMS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE