Characterization of Magnetic Anisotropy in Pt/Co/MgO Thin Films

POSTER

Abstract

The anisotropy of a ferromagnet refers to the preferred direction of magnetization. Very thin films of Cobalt (Co) with thicknesses below about a nanometer display perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, a tendency for the magnetization to point out of the plane of the film. However, this is dependent on both the underlying seed layer and the capping overlayer. The anisotropy of Co films capped with MgO on Pt seed layers may be altered with thermal annealing. Here, we investigate changes in magnetic anisotropy as a function of the thickness of Cobalt and the effects of annealing. We find that both lower thicknesses of Cobalt and annealing shift the preferred magnetic anisotropy to the out of plane direction.

Authors

  • Nowsherwan Sultan

    Georgia College & State University

  • S.S. Gupta

    Department of Applied Mathematics & Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE, Physics Department, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006, USA, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar (Ropar), Punjab 140 001, India, The Institute for Nuclear Research, Moscow, Davidson Coll, Western kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Naval Postgraduate School, Austin Peay State University, Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Nebraska, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Northwestern Univ, Univ of Virginia, Western Kentucky University, Physics Dept. Bowling Green, KY, Department of Physics, The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, TX 78539, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Western Kentucky University, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom, Austin Peay State Univ, University of Pardubice, Clemson University, Appalachian State Univ, Department of Physics, University of West Georgia, Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Francis Marion University, The Pennsylvania State University, Auburn University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Department of Physics, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho, Department of Physics,North Carolina State University, William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology, MSTD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Univ of Bristol, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Georgia Institute of Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, University of South Florida

  • S.S. Gupta

    Department of Applied Mathematics & Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE, Physics Department, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006, USA, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar (Ropar), Punjab 140 001, India, The Institute for Nuclear Research, Moscow, Davidson Coll, Western kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Naval Postgraduate School, Austin Peay State University, Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Nebraska, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Northwestern Univ, Univ of Virginia, Western Kentucky University, Physics Dept. Bowling Green, KY, Department of Physics, The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, TX 78539, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Western Kentucky University, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom, Austin Peay State Univ, University of Pardubice, Clemson University, Appalachian State Univ, Department of Physics, University of West Georgia, Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Francis Marion University, The Pennsylvania State University, Auburn University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Department of Physics, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho, Department of Physics,North Carolina State University, William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology, MSTD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Univ of Bristol, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Georgia Institute of Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, University of South Florida

  • Hasitha Mahabaduge

    Georgia College & State University, Georgia Collage & State University

  • S.S. Gupta

    Department of Applied Mathematics & Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE, Physics Department, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006, USA, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Nangal Road, Rupnagar (Ropar), Punjab 140 001, India, The Institute for Nuclear Research, Moscow, Davidson Coll, Western kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Naval Postgraduate School, Austin Peay State University, Univ of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Nebraska, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Northwestern Univ, Univ of Virginia, Western Kentucky University, Physics Dept. Bowling Green, KY, Department of Physics, The University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, TX 78539, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, Western Kentucky University, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom, Austin Peay State Univ, University of Pardubice, Clemson University, Appalachian State Univ, Department of Physics, University of West Georgia, Department of Geosciences, University of West Georgia, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Francis Marion University, The Pennsylvania State University, Auburn University, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Department of Physics, Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho, Department of Physics,North Carolina State University, William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology, MSTD, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Univ of Bristol, University of Alabama in Birmingham, Georgia Institute of Technology, Sandia National Laboratories, University of South Florida