Synchrotron Radiation Soft X-ray Spectroscopy Study of the Magnetic Anisotropy Transition in Mn<sub>3-x</sub>Co<sub>x</sub>Ga Heusler Films
POSTER
Abstract
Half-metallic electronic structures predicted for some Heusler compounds [1], as well as their diverse physical properties, such as ferromagnetic, semiconducting, insulating, superconducting, and topological properties [2], have attracted much attention. When Co ions are substituted in Mn3Ga Heusler films (Mn3-xCoxGa), they are considered to be potential spintronic materials. It was found that Mn3-xCoxGa films exhibit the magnetic anisotropy transition from perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) to in-plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) with increasing x [3,4]. But the origin of the PMA-to-IMA transition in Mn3-xCoxGa is not well understood yet.
In this work, we have investigated the electronic structures and spin configurations of Mn3-xCoxGa Heusler films by employing synchrotron-radiation-excited soft X-ray spectroscopies, such as soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). Co 2p XAS and XMCD measurements show that the substituted Co ions in Mn3-xCoxGa consist of ferromagnetic metallic Co clusters and divalent Co ions with disordered magnetic moments. Mn 2p XAS and XMCD measurements show that Mn ions at both the octahedral and tetrahedral sites are nearly divalent, and that the magnetic moments of Mn ions are polarized along the ordered magnetic moments of the substituted Co ions. Angle-dependent Co 2p XMCD results for Mn3-xCoxGa support the weak PMA-to-IMA magnetic anisotropy transition with increasing x (x: Co concentration). This work shows that the magnetic anisotropy transition in Mn3-xCoxGa is determined mainly by the ferromagnetic metallic Co clusters of the substituted Co ions.
[1] R. A. de Groot, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 2024 (1983).
[2] S. Chadov, et al., Nature Mater. 9, 541) (2010).
[3] H. Kurt, et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 020405(R) (2011).
[4] Kyujoon Lee, et al., J. Alloys Compd. 858, 1582884 (2021).
In this work, we have investigated the electronic structures and spin configurations of Mn3-xCoxGa Heusler films by employing synchrotron-radiation-excited soft X-ray spectroscopies, such as soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). Co 2p XAS and XMCD measurements show that the substituted Co ions in Mn3-xCoxGa consist of ferromagnetic metallic Co clusters and divalent Co ions with disordered magnetic moments. Mn 2p XAS and XMCD measurements show that Mn ions at both the octahedral and tetrahedral sites are nearly divalent, and that the magnetic moments of Mn ions are polarized along the ordered magnetic moments of the substituted Co ions. Angle-dependent Co 2p XMCD results for Mn3-xCoxGa support the weak PMA-to-IMA magnetic anisotropy transition with increasing x (x: Co concentration). This work shows that the magnetic anisotropy transition in Mn3-xCoxGa is determined mainly by the ferromagnetic metallic Co clusters of the substituted Co ions.
+ kangjs@catholic.ac.kr
[1] R. A. de Groot, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 2024 (1983).
[2] S. Chadov, et al., Nature Mater. 9, 541) (2010).
[3] H. Kurt, et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 020405(R) (2011).
[4] Kyujoon Lee, et al., J. Alloys Compd. 858, 1582884 (2021).
Presenters
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Jeongsoo Kang
The Catholic University of Korea, Catholic University of Korea
Authors
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Jeongsoo Kang
The Catholic University of Korea, Catholic University of Korea
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Seungho Seong
The Catholic Univ of Korea
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Geum Ha Lim
The Catholic University of Korea
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Woosuk Yoo
Sogang University
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Myung-Hwa Jung
Sogang University
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Sang Wook Han
University of Ulsan