Direct visualization of three-step magnetization reversal of nanopatterned spin-valve elements using off-axis electron holography

Kai He; David J. Smith; Martha R. McCartney

doi:10.1063/1.3123290

Direct visualization of three-step magnetization reversal of nanopatterned spin-valve elements using off-axis electron holography

Kai He^*, David J. Smith, Martha R. McCartney

^*Corresponding author for this work

NUANCE - Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental Center

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The remanent states and magnetization reversal mechanisms for nanopatterned Co/Cu/Py (Py=Permalloy) spin-valve elements with slotted-ring shapes have been studied using off-axis electron holography. The hysteresis loops of individual elements were quantitatively determined for slots parallel to the applied field, indicating that three identifiably separate steps occurred during reversal. Magnetization configurations at each stage were directly visualized, suggesting that Co and Py layers undergo coherent switching from onion state to flux-closure state and finally to reverse onion state. The effective loop rotation direction for the Py layer was clockwise.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	172503
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	94
Issue number	17
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3123290
State	Published - 2009

Funding

This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER46168. We acknowledge the use of facilities in the John M. Cowley Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy and the Center for Solid State Electronics Research at Arizona State University.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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10.1063/1.3123290

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title = "Direct visualization of three-step magnetization reversal of nanopatterned spin-valve elements using off-axis electron holography",

abstract = "The remanent states and magnetization reversal mechanisms for nanopatterned Co/Cu/Py (Py=Permalloy) spin-valve elements with slotted-ring shapes have been studied using off-axis electron holography. The hysteresis loops of individual elements were quantitatively determined for slots parallel to the applied field, indicating that three identifiably separate steps occurred during reversal. Magnetization configurations at each stage were directly visualized, suggesting that Co and Py layers undergo coherent switching from onion state to flux-closure state and finally to reverse onion state. The effective loop rotation direction for the Py layer was clockwise.",

author = "Kai He and Smith, {David J.} and McCartney, {Martha R.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER46168. We acknowledge the use of facilities in the John M. Cowley Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy and the Center for Solid State Electronics Research at Arizona State University.",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1063/1.3123290",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "94",

journal = "Applied Physics Letters",

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publisher = "American Institute of Physics",

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T1 - Direct visualization of three-step magnetization reversal of nanopatterned spin-valve elements using off-axis electron holography

AU - He, Kai

AU - Smith, David J.

AU - McCartney, Martha R.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by U.S. Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-FG02-04ER46168. We acknowledge the use of facilities in the John M. Cowley Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy and the Center for Solid State Electronics Research at Arizona State University.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The remanent states and magnetization reversal mechanisms for nanopatterned Co/Cu/Py (Py=Permalloy) spin-valve elements with slotted-ring shapes have been studied using off-axis electron holography. The hysteresis loops of individual elements were quantitatively determined for slots parallel to the applied field, indicating that three identifiably separate steps occurred during reversal. Magnetization configurations at each stage were directly visualized, suggesting that Co and Py layers undergo coherent switching from onion state to flux-closure state and finally to reverse onion state. The effective loop rotation direction for the Py layer was clockwise.

AB - The remanent states and magnetization reversal mechanisms for nanopatterned Co/Cu/Py (Py=Permalloy) spin-valve elements with slotted-ring shapes have been studied using off-axis electron holography. The hysteresis loops of individual elements were quantitatively determined for slots parallel to the applied field, indicating that three identifiably separate steps occurred during reversal. Magnetization configurations at each stage were directly visualized, suggesting that Co and Py layers undergo coherent switching from onion state to flux-closure state and finally to reverse onion state. The effective loop rotation direction for the Py layer was clockwise.

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Direct visualization of three-step magnetization reversal of nanopatterned spin-valve elements using off-axis electron holography

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