Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Magnetic Thin Film: History
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Contributor: Eng Editorial Office

A magnetic thin film is a laterally extended layer of magnetically ordered material whose thickness is sufficiently small for reduced dimensionality, surfaces, interfaces, or geometric confinement to significantly influence its magnetic properties relative to those of the corresponding bulk material. Magnetic thin films can comprise ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, or antiferromagnetic materials and may be formed on non-magnetic or magnetic substrates, buffer layers, or as individual layers within magnetic/non-magnetic multilayers and heterostructures [1][2]. Although magnetic thin films commonly have thicknesses ranging from a few nanometres to several micrometres, there is no universal thickness boundary separating a thin film from a bulk material; the relevant criterion is the extent to which reduced thickness, interfaces, and geometry affect the magnetic state and behavior. The magnetic properties of thin films are determined by the competition among intrinsic exchange interactions, magnetocrystalline anisotropy, shape and magnetostatic anisotropy, surface and interfacial anisotropy, and stress-induced anisotropy [1][2][3]. These contributions influence the orientation and stability of magnetization, magnetic domain structures, magnetization reversal, and magnetic dynamics. Domain configurations, including single-domain, multidomain, and stripe-domain states, depend on the balance among exchange, magnetostatic, domain-wall, and anisotropy energies, as well as on the film thickness and lateral dimensions [2][3]. Interfaces and adjacent layers can further modify magnetic properties through interfacial anisotropy, exchange coupling, and other interface-related effects. Magnetic thin films are therefore important components of magnetic recording, spintronic devices, sensors, and other technologies that require controlled magnetic properties at reduced dimensions.

  • thin ferromagnetic film
  • anisotropy
  • magnetization reversal
  • exchange coupling
  • domain wall

References

  1. O'Handley R.C. Modern Magnetic Materials: Principles and Applications; Wiley-Interscience: New York, NY, USA, 2000. ISBN: 9780471155669.
  2. Cullity B.D.; Graham C.D. Introduction to Magnetic Materials, 2nd ed.; Wiley/IEEE: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2009. ISBN: 9780470386316.
  3. Buschow K.H.J. (Ed.) Handbook of Magnetic Materials, Vol. 15; Elsevier: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2003. ISBN: 978-0080522456.
More
This entry is offline, you can click here to edit this entry!
Write an Entry