XAS and XMCD studies of magnetic properties modifications of Pt/Co/Au and Pt/Co/Pt trilayers induced by Ga⁺ ions irradiation.
Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Pt/Co/Au and Pt/Co/Pt trilayers subjected to 30 keV Ga(+) ion irradiation are compared. In two-dimensional maps of these properties as a function of cobalt thickness and ion fluence, two branches with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) for Pt/Co/Pt trilayers are well distinguished. The replacement of the Pt capping layer with Au results in the two branches still being visible but the in-plane anisotropy for the low-fluence branch is suppressed whereas the high-fluence branch displays PMA. The X-ray absorption spectra and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectra are discussed and compared with non-irradiated reference samples. The changes of their shapes and peak amplitude, particularly for the high-fluence branch, are related to the modifications of the local environment of Co(Pt) atoms and the etching effects induced by ion irradiation. Additionally, in irradiated trilayers the XMCD measurements at the Pt L2,3-edge reveal an increase of the magnetic moment induced in Pt atoms.
Faculty of Physics, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1L, Bialystok 15-245, Poland.
Piotr
P
Mazalski
Faculty of Physics, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1L, Bialystok 15-245, Poland.
Iosif
I
Sveklo
Faculty of Physics, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1L, Bialystok 15-245, Poland.
Zbigniew
Z
Kurant
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, F-38043 Grenoble, France.
Katharina
K
Ollefs
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, F-38043 Grenoble, France.
Andrei
A
Rogalev
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, BP 220, F-38043 Grenoble, France.
Fabrice
F
Wilhelm
Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, PO Box 510119, Dresden 01314, Germany.
Juergen
J
Fassbender
Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotników 32/46, Warszawa 02-668, Poland.
Lech Tomasz
LT
Baczewski
Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotników 32/46, Warszawa 02-668, Poland.
Andrzej
A
Wawro
Faculty of Physics, University of Białystok, Ciołkowskiego 1L, Bialystok 15-245, Poland.
Andrzej
A
Maziewski
X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectra; magnetic and magneto-optical properties; perpendicular magnetic anisotropy; trilayer