Analysis of magnetic anisotropy of FeCoAlON thin films by the domain structures

The magnetic properties and domain structures of FeCoAlON thin films with various thicknesses (55nm to 320nm) have been investigated in detail. As the thickness increased the in-plane uniaxial anisotropy faded away and the domains changed from a cross-tie structure to a stripe structure. It indicate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials letters 2012-07, Vol.79, p.45-47
Main Authors: Lou, Yuanfu, Yin, Ge, Zheng, Fu, Luo, Feilong, Bai, Jianmin, Wu, Dongping, Cao, Jiangwei, Wei, Fulin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aluminum
Anisotropy
cobalt
films (materials)
iron
Magnetic properties
Magnetization
Mathematical analysis
MFM
Planes
Rotatable anisotropy
Stresses
Stripe domain
Thin films
Tilt
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Summary:The magnetic properties and domain structures of FeCoAlON thin films with various thicknesses (55nm to 320nm) have been investigated in detail. As the thickness increased the in-plane uniaxial anisotropy faded away and the domains changed from a cross-tie structure to a stripe structure. It indicated that a rotatable anisotropy appeared in the thicker films. This rotatable anisotropy might be due to the stress induced by magnetoelastic anisotropy originating from the N atoms filling the interstitial sites of (110) plane. It resulted in compressed stress in the film plane, which forced the magnetization vector to tilt out of the film plane. For the thinner films, the strong demagnetized field inhibited the formation of a stripe domain structure. ► The domain structures of FeCoAlON films changed with thickness increasing. ► The perpendicular anisotropy appeared in the thicker FeCoAlON films. ► The N atoms filled interstitial site and resulted in a perpendicular anisotropy. ► The MFM analysis showed that it was a rotatable anisotropy.
ISSN:0167-577X
1873-4979
DOI:10.1016/j.matlet.2012.03.085