Controlling magnetic configuration in the soft/hard bilayers probed by PNR

ORAL

Abstract

Hard-soft magnetic composites have played an important role in the data storage and permanent magnetic technology [1]. Understanding the full range of interactions within hard-soft coupled systems is critical to maximizing their benefit in composite applications [2]. Here, we present polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) to experimentally study magnetic configurations in hard/soft bilayers. By designing saturation magnetization of hard () and soft () magnets and the soft layer thickness (), the magnetic interactions, and resulting configuration, is systematically varied. When less than the critical exchange length (, the magnetic moments of soft layer are rigidly coupled to magnetic hard layer. While for , magnetic moments in the soft layer becomes relaxed in plane. This relaxation can be slowly released in thicker magnetic soft layers with lower and higher. These results are then supported with micromagnetic simulation.
[1] Y. Sonobe et al., IEEE Trans. Magn 37, 1667 (2001)
[2] D. A. Gilbert et al., Sci. Rep. 6, 32842 (2016)

*This work is supported by U.S DOE Office of Science Award DE-sc0021344

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Presenters

  • Nan Tang

    • University of Tennessee
    • Material Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Authors

  • Nan Tang

    • University of Tennessee
    • Material Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Dustin Gilbert

    • University of Tennessee
    • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee
    • Material Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Brian James Kirby

    • NCNR, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, NIST