Micromagnetic simulation of exchange coupled ferri-/ferromagnetic heterostructures

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 381; pp. 28 - 33
• Main Authors: Oezelt, Harald, Kovacs, Alexander, Reichel, Franz, Fischbacher, Johann, Bance, Simon, Gusenbauer, Markus, Schubert, Christian, Albrecht, Manfred, Schrefl, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2015; North-Holland Pub. Co
• Subjects: Computer simulation; Domain wall motion; Exchange; Exchange-coupled composite media; FEM; Ferrimagnet; Ferrimagnetism; Ferromagnetism; Finite size effect; Heterostructures; Joining; Magnetization reversal; Mathematical analysis; Micromagnetic simulations; Pinning; Finite size effect; Exchange-coupled composite media; Ferrimagnet; Micromagnetic simulations; Pinning; Domain wall motion; FEM
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2014.12.045

Exchange coupled ferri-/ferromagnetic heterostructures are a possible material composition for future magnetic storage and sensor applications. In order to understand the driving mechanisms in the demagnetization process, we perform micromagnetic simulations by employing the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. The magnetization reversal is dominated by pinning events within the amorphous ferrimagnetic layer and at the interface between the ferrimagnetic and the ferromagnetic layer. The shape of the computed magnetization reversal loop corresponds well with experimental data, if a spatial variation of the exchange coupling across the ferri-/ferromagnetic interface is assumed. •We present a model for exchange coupled ferri-/ferromagnetic heterostructures.•We incorporate the microstructural features of the amorphous ferrimagnet.•A distribution of interface exchange coupling is assumed to fit experimental data.•The reversal is dominated by pinning within the ferrimagnet and at the interface.