Simulations of parallel and transverse remanences in textured nano-patterned thin film media

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials 2010-05, Vol.322 (9), p.1620-1623
• Main Author: El-Hilo, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arrays; Computer simulation; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Dipolar interaction effect; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic properties of nanostructures; Magnetic recording materials; Nano-patterned film; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Noise levels; Orientation; Physics; Studies of specific magnetic materials; Surface layer; Texture; Texture remanence curve
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2009.06.004

In this work the effects of dipolar coupling on the distribution of effective orientations in textured nano-patterned media is simulated. The modelled films consist of 50×50 cobalt grains of uniform diameters ( D=20 nm) arranged in hexagonal (triangular) arrays. The grains easy axes are distributed according to a Gaussian texture function with a standard deviation of 30° about the texture direction. For different array separations ( d), the distribution of anisotropy orientations is extracted from the simulated parallel M rp( β) and transverse M rt( β) remanence curves where β is the angle by which the film is rotated. For the non-interacting case, predictions show that, M rt( β)=d M rp( β)/d β which is consistent with Shrikman and Treves theory whereas for the interacting case, M rt( β) is deviated from d M rp( β)/d β. The extracted distribution of effective orientations is found to become narrower as the array separation is decreased which is due to dipolar-induced texturing effects.