Control of the switching properties of magnetic thin films and spin valve devices by patterning

D. Morecroft; Chi Wah Leung; N. A. Stelmashenko; J. L. Prieto; D. B. Jardine; M. G. Blamire

doi:10.1109/20.951059

Control of the switching properties of magnetic thin films and spin valve devices by patterning

D. Morecroft, Chi Wah Leung, N. A. Stelmashenko, J. L. Prieto, D. B. Jardine, M. G. Blamire

Research output: Journal article publication › Conference article › Academic research › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effects of patterning highly anisotropic repeating structures in soft magnetic thin films have been examined. Arrays of wires with equal mark/space ratios were patterned in resist using optical lithography. 100 nm thick Ni80Fe15Mo5films were partially or completely etched using broad beam ion milling to assess the dependence of magnetic properties on the degree of interconnection between the wires. These structures show a progressive increase in coercivity and a transition between single and two-stage switching with increasing milling depth. A similar nanopatterning technique has been applied to unpinned (Ni80Fe20/Cu/Ni80Fe20) spin valve structures in order to enhance the coercivity of one of the ferromagnetic layers; the increased coercivity induced by patterning changes the natural similarity of the magnetic layers and the completed structure exhibits a small spin valve response.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2079-2081
Number of pages	3
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
Volume	37
Issue number	4 I
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/20.951059
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2001
Externally published	Yes
Event	8th Joint Magnetism and Magnetic Materials -International Magnetic Conference- (MMM-Intermag) - San Antonio, TX, United States Duration: 7 Jan 2001 → 11 Jan 2001

Keywords

Anisotropy
Magnetic films
Magnetoresistive devices
Nanotechnology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

More information

10.1109/20.951059

Cite this

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abstract = "The effects of patterning highly anisotropic repeating structures in soft magnetic thin films have been examined. Arrays of wires with equal mark/space ratios were patterned in resist using optical lithography. 100 nm thick Ni80Fe15Mo5films were partially or completely etched using broad beam ion milling to assess the dependence of magnetic properties on the degree of interconnection between the wires. These structures show a progressive increase in coercivity and a transition between single and two-stage switching with increasing milling depth. A similar nanopatterning technique has been applied to unpinned (Ni80Fe20/Cu/Ni80Fe20) spin valve structures in order to enhance the coercivity of one of the ferromagnetic layers; the increased coercivity induced by patterning changes the natural similarity of the magnetic layers and the completed structure exhibits a small spin valve response.",

keywords = "Anisotropy, Magnetic films, Magnetoresistive devices, Nanotechnology",

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AU - Morecroft, D.

AU - Leung, Chi Wah

AU - Stelmashenko, N. A.

AU - Prieto, J. L.

AU - Jardine, D. B.

AU - Blamire, M. G.

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AB - The effects of patterning highly anisotropic repeating structures in soft magnetic thin films have been examined. Arrays of wires with equal mark/space ratios were patterned in resist using optical lithography. 100 nm thick Ni80Fe15Mo5films were partially or completely etched using broad beam ion milling to assess the dependence of magnetic properties on the degree of interconnection between the wires. These structures show a progressive increase in coercivity and a transition between single and two-stage switching with increasing milling depth. A similar nanopatterning technique has been applied to unpinned (Ni80Fe20/Cu/Ni80Fe20) spin valve structures in order to enhance the coercivity of one of the ferromagnetic layers; the increased coercivity induced by patterning changes the natural similarity of the magnetic layers and the completed structure exhibits a small spin valve response.

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KW - Magnetic films

KW - Magnetoresistive devices

KW - Nanotechnology

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JF - IEEE Transactions on Magnetics

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Control of the switching properties of magnetic thin films and spin valve devices by patterning

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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