Tuneable exchange-spring stiffness in amorphous magnetic trilayer structures

• We investigate the magnetic properties of amorphous Sm10Co90/Co-60(Al70Zr30)(40)/Co-85(Al70Zr30)(15) exchange-spring magnet trilayers. The magnetically soft Co-85(Al70Zr30)(15) layer is coupled to the magnetically hard Sm10Co90 layer through the weakly magnetic low-T (c) Co-60(Al70Zr30)(40) spacer layer. The strength of the coupling can be controlled with temperature and the coupling persists above the intrinsic T (c) of the spacer layer due to a long-range magnetic proximity effect. Polarized neutron reflectivity is used to examine the magnetic profile of the trilayers during magnetization reversal. A two-step switching occurs, with the switching angle of the soft layer strongly dependent on the strength of the coupling. In the strong coupling regime a magnetic state can be achieved where the soft layer magnetization is perpendicular to the hard layer whereas in the weak coupling regime the soft layer reverses fully.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

exchange-spring magnet

interlayer exchange coupling

amorphous

thin film

magnetic proximity effect

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