The effect of magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the domain structure of patterned Fe2CrSi Heusler alloy thin films

T. Miyawaki, M. Foerster, S. Finizio, C. A.F. Vaz, M. A. Mawass, K. Inagaki, N. Fukatani, L. Le Guyader, F. Nolting, K. Ueda, H. Asano, M. Kläui

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effects of magnetic anisotropy on domain structures in half-metallic Heusler alloy Fe2CrSi thin film elements were investigated using high resolution x-ray magnetic circular dichroism photoemission electron microscopy. The transition of the dominating contribution from the magnetocrystalline anisotropy to the shape anisotropy is observed in square-shaped elements when reducing the size below 2.0-2.5 μm. In particular, we identify in disk-shaped Heusler elements the vortex state as the ground state. The shape-anisotropy dominated, well-defined magnetization configuration shows the potential of the Fe2CrSi Heusler alloy for applications in vortex-core- or domain-wall-devices, where the high spin polarization is desirable.

Original languageEnglish
Article number073905
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume114
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 Aug 21
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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