Search Results (73)

A kind of magnetoplasmonic resonators is numerically designed with hexagonally arrayed Au/bismuth iron garnet (BIG) bilayer nanodiscks on Au thin film layers. Multi-physics coupling calculation on their magnetoplasmonic resonance features suggest that there exists a strong resonant coupling between the surface plasmon excited by the hexagonal grating and the waveguide modes induced by Au-BIG-Au, which can significantly enhance the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect. Interestingly, a new type of circular oscillating can be induced in the optical-transparent BIG layers as the thickness of BIG layers is between 2 nm and 22 nm. This circular oscillating exhibits a distinct thickness-dependent feature, which can be attributed to the near field interference of the excited localized plasmon resonance between the two interfaces formed by the middle BIG nanodiscs in the top Au nanodisks and the bottom Au thin film layers according to the simulation. These unique magnetoplasmonic features endow this kind of magnetoplasmonic resonators with a greatly enhanced refractive index sensing property, with a calculated figure of merit (FOM) value of up to 7527 RIU⁻¹. Full article

Exchange-biased specimens were produced by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of ferromagnetic (FM) Co-on-CoO substrates after the substrates had been irradiated by heavy ions to induce defects in the antiferromagnet (AFM). Measurements were obtained at different temperatures for different sample orientations with respect to the external magnetic field. While the EB was relatively small, measurements of the bulk magnetization at low temperatures revealed unusually shaped hysteresis loops. The surface magnetization, however, showed simple, nearly rectangular hysteresis loops. This study focuses on the advantage of complementary information on surface and bulk magnetization from optical and non-optical measurement methods. Full article

We consider temporal optical effects in the presence of static fields, and more generally in anisotropic optical media, such as magnetized materials. Magneto-optical effects are due not just to phase shifts between the different eigenmodes, as in static media, but also to temporal variations in the frequency and mode amplitudes. Faraday rotations, Cotton–Mouton effects and other polarimetric processes due to static magnetic or electric fields are discussed. Examples of magneto-plasmas are compared with those in nonlinear Kerr media. These temporal processes could be of general interest in plasma physics and photonics. Full article

The modulation of the magneto-optical signal is a crucial research focus in the field of magneto-optics. Micron arrays of varying shapes were fabricated using the UV exposure technique, and their effects were tested on the magneto-optical Kerr response of CoFeB thin films. The influence of the organic–inorganic interface on the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) was investigated by utilizing organic materials to fabricate arrays. The results indicate that the micron-scale metal array exhibits a limited enhancement of the magneto-optical Kerr signal, but it can change the ferromagnetic strength and the magnetization speed of the magnetic layer. This is because the electron orbit coupling at the organic–inorganic interface enhances the performance of the magnetic film. When a photoresist is used as the array material, the longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr signal of the CoFeB film increases by at least two-fold. The enhancement effect of different shapes of arrays is different because of the different contact area with the CoFeB film. Full article

Thin (~50 nm thick) BaM hexaferrite (BaFe₁₂O₁₉) films were grown on (1–102) and (0001) cut α-Al₂O₃ (sapphire) substrates via laser molecular beam epitaxy using a one- or two-stage growth protocol. The advantages of a two-stage protocol are shown. The surface morphology, structural and magnetic properties of films were studied using atomic force microscopy, reflected high-energy electron diffraction, three-dimensional X-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping, powder X-ray diffraction, magneto-optical, and magnetometric methods. Annealed BaFe₁₂O₁₉/Al₂O₃ (1–102) structures consist of close-packed islands epitaxially bonded to the substrate. The hexagonal crystallographic axis and the easy axis (EA) of the magnetization of the films are deflected from the normal to the film by an angle of φ~60°. The films exhibit magnetic hysteresis loops for both in-plane H_in-plane and out-of-plane H_out-of-plane magnetic fields. The shape of M_out-of-plane(H_in-plane) and M_in-plane(H_in-plane) hysteresis loops strongly depends on the azimuth θ of the H_{in plane}, confirming the tilted orientation of the EA. The M_out-of-plane(H_out-of-plane) magnetization curves are caused by the reversible rotation of magnetization and irreversible magnetization jumps associated with the appearance and motion of domain walls. In the absence of a magnetic field, the magnetization is oriented at an angle close to φ. Full article

The giant magnetoresistance effect in two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials has sparked substantial interest in various fields; including sensing; data storage; electronics; and spintronics. Their unique 2D layered structures allow for the manifestation of distinctive physical properties and precise performance regulation under different conditions. In this review, we present an overview of this rapidly developing research area. Firstly, these 2D magnetic materials are catalogued according to magnetic coupling types. Then, several vital effects in 2D magnets are highlighted together with theoretical investigation, such as magnetic circular dichroism, magneto-optical Kerr effect, and anomalous Hall effect. After that, we forecast the potential applications of 2D magnetic materials for spintronic devices. Lastly, research advances in the attracting magnons, skyrmions and other spin textures in 2D magnets are discussed. Full article

A preprocessing technique named “spiral annealing” was applied for the first time to magnetic microwires. In this process, the sample was arranged in a flat spiral shape during annealing, and subsequent measurements were conducted on the unbent sample with the induced stress distribution along and transverse to the sample. The research utilized both magnetic and magneto-optical methods. The anisotropy field magnitude in both the volume and surface of the microwire was measured, and for the first time, a direct correlation between the anisotropy field and the curvature of a spirally annealed microwire was established. Additionally, a connection between the type of surface domain structure and the degree of spiral curvature was identified. The preservation of the distribution of spiral annealing-induced magnetic properties both along and across the microwire is a key effect influencing the technological application of the microwire. The range of induced curvature within which a specific helical magnetic structure can exist was also determined. This insight links the conditions of spiral annealing to the selection of microwires as active elements in magnetic sensors. Full article

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is a powerful tool in modern technologies, including electronic, optoelectronic, spintronic, and sensoric applications. The primary factor determining epitaxial heterostructure properties is the growth mode and the resulting atomic structure and microstructure. In this paper, we present a novel method for growing epitaxial layers and nanostructures with specific and optimized structural and magnetic properties by assisting the MBE process using electromagnetic and mechanical external stimuli: an electric field (EF), a magnetic field (MF), and a strain field (SF). The transmission of the external fields to the sample is realized using a system of specialized sample holders, advanced transfers, and dedicated manipulators. Examples of applications include the influence of MFs on the growth and anisotropy of epitaxial magnetite and iron films, the use of EFs for in situ resistivity measurements, the realization of in situ magneto-optic measurements, and the application of SFs to the structural modification of metal films on mica. Full article

An approach was proposed to control the displacement of domain walls in magnetic microwires, which are employed in magnetic sensors. The velocity of the domain wall can be altered by the interaction of two magnetic microwires of distinct types. Thorough investigations were conducted utilizing fluxmetric, Sixtus–Tonks, and magneto-optical techniques. The magneto-optical examinations revealed transformation in the surface structure of the domain wall and facilitated the determination of the mechanism of external influence on the movement of domain walls in magnetic microwires. Full article

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are interesting for their potential employment in biomedical and environmental technologies. Although they have been characterized by many techniques, there are some issues that need to be solved. For instance, it is not yet possible to finely characterize their size distribution or to detect their local magnetic properties. In this work, commercial MNPs were employed, which were made of iron oxide cores with a mean diameter of 8 nm embedded in a matrix of dextran to form skeins with a mean diameter of 20 nm. These MNPs have been dispersed in keratin, a natural protein extracted from wool. Thin films have been realized by spin coating water solutions with various MNP concentrations. Analysis was conducted using a set of techniques, namely Atomic Force Microscopy, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, a Physical Property Measurement System–Vibrating Sample Magnetometer, and the spatially resolved Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (NanoMOKE). These MNPs show superparamagnetic properties, although a wide distribution of blocking temperature values indicates that the cores are not isolated and interact with others. NanoMOKE not only allows us to map the magnetic behavior of MNP clusters, but also to detect the presence of isolated MNPs dispersed in the keratin matrix. Full article

Composite magnetic nanostructures are a subject of high research interest, as they provide a number of exciting effects absent in live nature. Among others, much attention has been paid to the studies of exchange coupling in antiferromagnetic/ferromagnetic (AFM/FM) films, which leads to the pinning effect. It manifests itself as a widening and shift of the magnetic hysteresis loop with respect to zero value of the external magnetic field oriented along the pinning direction. In this work, we report on comparative studies of linear and nonlinear magneto-optical effects under the laser-induced switching of the pinning effect in IrMn/CoFe films of various thickness of the ferromagnetic CoFe layer. We found that the magneto-optical response of the pinned AFM/FM nanofilms appears with different hysteresis loop parameters in the transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) and interface-sensitive magnetization-induced second harmonic generation (SHG), indicating the diversity of the magnetic effects at interfaces compared to the bulk of the films. Full article

The magneto-optical (MO) Kerr effects for ZnO and ZnO:Ni-doped nanolaminate structures prepared using atomic layer deposition (ALD) have been investigated. The chemical composition and corresponding structural and morphological properties were studied using XRD and XPS and compared for both nanostructures. The 2D array gradient maps of microscale variations of the Kerr angle polarization rotation were acquired by means of MO Kerr microscopy. The obtained data revealed complex behavior and broad statistical dispersion and showed distinct qualitative and quantitative differences between the undoped ZnO and ZnO:Ni-doped nanolaminates. The detected magneto-optical response is extensively inhomogeneous in ZnO:Ni films, and a giant Kerr polarization rotation angle reaching up to ~2° was established. This marks the prospects for further development of magneto-optical effects in ALD ZnO modified by transition metal oxide nanostructures. Full article

The fundamental mechanisms of ultrafast demagnetization and magnetization recovery processes in ferromagnetic materials remain incompletely understood. The investigation of different dynamic features which depend on various physical quantities requires a more systematic approach. Here, the femtosecond laser-induced demagnetization and recovery dynamics in L1₀-Fe_0.5Pt_0.5 alloy film are studied by utilizing time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr measurements, focusing on their dependences of excitation fluence and ambient temperature over broad ranges. Ultrafast demagnetization dominated by Elliott-Yafet spin-flip scattering, and two-step magnetization recovery processes are found to be involved in all observations. The fast recovery time corresponding to spin–lattice relaxation is much shorter than that of many ferromagnets and increase with excitation fluence. These can be ascribed to the strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC) demonstrated in FePt and the reduction of transient magnetic anisotropy, respectively. Surprisingly, the demagnetization time exhibits no discernible correlation with ambient temperature. Two competitive factors are proposed to account for this phenomenon. On the other hand, the spin–lattice relaxation accelerates as temperature decreases due to enhanced SOC at lower ambient temperature. A semiquantitative analysis is given to get a visualized understanding. These results offer a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic characteristics of ultrafast demagnetization and recovery processes in iron-based materials with strong SOC, highlighting the potential for regulating the magnetization recovery process through temperature and laser fluence adjustments. Full article

In this study, we present a novel investigation into the magnetic and morphological properties of equiatomic B2-ordered FeRh thin films irradiated with single high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses. The goal is to elucidate the effect of femtosecond laser ablation on the magnetic properties of FeRh. We employed Scanning Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (S-MOKE) microscopy to examine the magnetic phase after laser processing, providing high spatial resolution and sensitivity. Our results for the first time demonstrated the appearance of a magneto-optical signal from the bottom of ablation craters, suggesting a transition from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic behavior. Fluence-resolved measurements clearly demonstrate that the ablation threshold coincides with the threshold of the antiferromagnet-to-ferromagnet phase transition. The existence of such a magnetic phase transition was independently confirmed by temperature-dependent S-MOKE measurements using a CW laser as a localized heat source. Whereas the initial FeRh film displayed a reversible antiferromagnet-ferromagnet phase transition, the laser-ablated structures exhibited irreversible changes in their magnetic properties. This comprehensive analysis revealed the strong correlation between the femtosecond laser ablation process and the magnetic phase transformation in FeRh thin films. Full article

Hydrotalcites (HTlcs) are a class of nanostructured layered materials that may be employed in a variety of applications, from green to bio technologies. In this paper, we report an investigation on HTlcs made of Mg and Fe, recently employed to improve the growth in vitro of osteoblasts within a keratin sponge. We carried out an analysis of powder materials and of HTlcs dispersed in keratin and spin-coated on a Si/SiO₂ substrate at different temperatures. A magnetic study of the powders was carried out with a Quantum Design Physical Property Measurement System equipped with a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. The data gathered prove that these HTlcs are fully paramagnetic, and keratin showed a very small magnetic response. Optical and Atomic Force Microscopy analyses of the thin films provide a detailed picture of clusters randomly dispersed in the films with various dimensions. The magnetic properties of these films were characterized using the Nano Magneto Optical Kerr Effect (NanoMOKE) down to 7.5 K. The data collected show that the local magnetic properties can be mapped with a micrometric resolution distinguishing HTlc regions from keratin ones. This approach opens new perspectives in the characterization of these composite materials. Full article