EPJ Web of Conferences (Jan 2013)

Ga+ ion irradiation-induced changes in magnetic anisotropy of a Pt/Co/Pt thin film studied by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism

  • Liedke M. O.,
  • Fassbender J.,
  • Kurant Z.,
  • Maziewski A.,
  • Sveklo I.,
  • Mazalski P.,
  • Sakamaki M.,
  • Amemiya K.,
  • Wawro A.,
  • Baczewski L. T.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20134008002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 40
p. 08002

Abstract

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Ga+ ion irradiation-induced changes in magnetic anisotropy of a Pt/Co/Pt ultrathin film are investigated by means of the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) technique. A large difference in the Co orbital moment is observed between out-of-plane and in-plane directions of the film at moderate Ga+ fluences of ~1-2×1014 ions/cm2, which corresponds to the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), while further increased fluences reduce the orbital moment difference, resulting in in-plane magnetization. In contrast, at much higher Ga+ fluences of ~5×1015 ions/cm2, at which PMA is observed again, no significant difference is found in the orbital moment of Co between out-of-plane and in-plane directions. Different origins are thus suggested for the appearance of PMA induced by the irradiation between moderate and high Ga+ fluences.