• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2007

We performed magnetic force microscopy (MFM) observation on array of Co dots in order to understand magnetic state and magnetization behavior of submicron sized Co dots patterned on GaMnAs bridge. MFM observations showed the magnetization reversal and processes of local magnetization of individual ferromagnetic Co nanodots. Magnetic state of Co dots either single domain or vortex is dependent on geometrical size and thickness. Transition from single domain to vortex state can be realized with MFM tip assisted local field. Magnetization reversal process takes place through sequential reversal of individual dots. Localized inhomogeneous magnetic field can be manipulated by controlling magnetic state of individual Co dot in the array structure.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.66-69
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• 2006

Local magnetization reversal in the exchange-biased NiFe/FeMn and $[Pd/Co]_5/FeMn$ multilayers with in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy was achieved by using laser annealing. The local annealed NiFe/FeMn film under the opposite magnetic field shows a magnetoresistance (MR) curve having two symmetric peaks at the positive and negative exchange biasing field (${\pm}H_{ex}$). The intensity of the nucleated MR peak rises as the exposed area extends during the laser annealing process, and the peak disappears under the reverse magnetic field. In the case of [Pd/Co]/FeMn films, the local magnetization reversal increased gradually as the laser power increases. The locally reversed magnetization was restored under the opposite magnetic field.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.4-8
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• 2000

Local coercivity variation of Co/Pd nanomultilayers has been investigated by measuring the polar Kerr hysteresis loops of local areas of submicron size using a magnetooptic Kerr microscope system. Interestingly, the local coercivity distribution is very sensitive to an increase in the number of repeats: the $(2-{\AA}\;Co/ll-{\AA} Pd)_10$ sample showed a smooth variation of the local coercivity, while $(2-{\AA}\;Co/ll-{\AA} Pd)_18$ showed a large fluctuation. From micromagnetic considerations based on a thermally activated relaxation odel, we have found that this local coercivity variation has a crucial effect on the contrasting magnetization reversal behavior observed in those samples: dominant wall-motion far the former sample and dominant nucleation for the latter one.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2006

The physical origin of complex dynamic domain configuration in nonequilibrium magnetic systems with mesoscopic length scales has been studied. An increasing complexity in the spatial feature of the evolution is found to accompany the increasing reversal speed, when a ferromagnetic element is driven by progressively faster switching fields applied antiparallel to the initial magnetization direction. As reversal rates approach the characteristic precession frequencies of spin fluctuations, the thermal energy can boost the magnetization into local configurations which are completely different from those experienced during quasistatic reversal. The sensitive dependence of the spatial pattern on switching speed can be understood in terms of a dynamic exchange interaction of thermally excited spins; the coherent modulation of the spins is strongly dependent on the rise time of switching pulses.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.224-227
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• 2004

We have studied local magnetization reversal by laser annealing in exchange biased NiFe/FeMn bilayer. Local magnetization reversal was performed by using the DPSS laser under external magnetic field of 600G. When the laser illuminated the patterned film with the power of above 300 mW during 15 min, a magnetoresistance (MR) curve with symmetric peaks at the opposite field was obtained due to the local reversal of exchange biasing. The direction of exchange anisotropy in the locally reversed region can be restored by local laser annealing under alternating magnetic field, even if its MR peak was reduced by the damage and interdiffusion. The magnetic domain structure of the locally reversed region was measured by MFM. The new domains were generated by laser annealing near the exposed area.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.200-206
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• 2000

We have investigated the activation magnetic moment, which characterizes the basis magnetic moment acting as a single magnetic particle during magnetization reversal. The activation magnetic moment was measured from each local area on continuous ferromagnetic thin films, by analyzing the magnetic field dependence of magnetization reversal of the corresponding local area based on a thermally activated relaxation process. It was found that the activation magnetic moment was nonuniform on submicrometer scale; the fluctuation increased with increasing the number of layers in Co/Pd multilayers. The distribution could be well analyzed by exp($\delta$m$\^$3/2/), where $\delta$m is the deviation of the activation magnetic moment from the mean value.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.70-72
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• 2001

We have investigated the activation magnetic moment, which characterizes the basic magnetic moment acting as a single magnetic particle during magnetization reversal. The activation magnetic moment was measured from each local area on continuous ferromagnetic thin films, by analyzing the magnetic field dependence of magnetization reversal of the corresponding local area, based on a thermally activated relaxation process. It was found that the activation magnetic moment was nonuniform on a submicrometer scale; the fluctuation increased with increasing the number of layers in Co/Pd multilayers. The distribution could be well described by exp($\delta m^{3/2}$), where $\delta$m is the deviation of the activation magnetic moment from the mean value.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.112-113
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• 2001

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.228-231
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• 2004

We have studied local magnetization reversal and magnetic properties induced by Laser annealing method in the strip-patterned Ta/NiFe/FeMn/Ta and Ta/NiFe/FeMn/NiFe/Ta multilayers fabricated by ion-beam deposition. The films were exposed to the emission of the DPSS (Diode Pumped Solid State, Nd:YAG) laser under 600 G. The laser beam intensity increased up to 440 mW. When the laser illuminated the patterned film with the power of above 200 m W, the intensity of MR peak located in +87 Oe shrunk. A new MR peak was generated at -63 Oe. When the laser power is 400 mW, the location of positive MR peak(H$\sub$ex/) was changed slightly from +87 Oe to +76 Oe, and the MR ratio was decreased from 0.9% to 0.1 %. On the other hand, the new (negative) MR peak shifted from -63 Oe to -80 Oe, with the MR ratio increased up to 0.3%. As the illuminated area expanded, the intensity of opposite MR peak increased and it of negative MR peak decreased. This proved that the local reversal of exchange biasing should be realized by laser annealing.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.72-79
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• 2002

Local M-H loops have been measured on the free layer of a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) junction using the magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) system, with an optical beam size of about 2 $\mu$m diameter. Tunnel junctions were deposited using the DC magnetron sputtering method in a chamber with a base pressure of 3$\times$10$^{-9}$ Torr. The relatively irregular variations of coercive force H$_c$(∼17.5 Oe) and unidirectional anisotropy field H$_{ua}$(∼7.5 Oe) in the as-deposited sample are revealed. After $200{^{\circ}C}$ annealing, He decreases to 15 Oe but H$_{ua}$ increases to 20 Oe with smooth local variations. Two-dimensional plots of H$_c$ and H$_{ua}$ show the symmetric saddle shapes with their axes aligned with the pinned layer, irrespective of the annealing field angle. This is thought to be caused by geometric effects during deposition, together with a minor annealing effect. In addition, the variation of root mean square (RMS) surface roughness reveals it to be symmetric with respect to the center of the pinned-layer axis, with the roughness of 2.5 $\AA$ near the edge and 5.8 $\AA$ at the junction center. Comparison of surface roughness with the variation of H$_{ua}$ suggests that the H$_{ua}$ variation of the free layer is well described by dipole interactions related to surface roughness. As a whole, the reversal magnetization is not uniform over the entire junction area and the macroscopic properties are governed by the average sum of local distributions.