Exploring swift heavy ion-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and tunnel magnetoresistance in CoFe2O4/MgO/ZnFe2O4 multilayers: X-ray magnetic circular dichroism study
Source abstract
Abstract
Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), consisting of two ferromagnetic electrodes separated by an insulating layer, have been foundational in spintronics. This study expands the traditional MTJ framework by incorporating an antiferromagnetic electrode alongside a ferromagnetic one to elucidate the interplay between perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR). Specifically, we investigate the relationship among spin-orbital magnetic moments, PMA, and TMR in pristine and Ag-irradiated (200 MeV) thin films of CoFe2O4 (40 nm)/MgO (20 nm)/ZnFe2O4 (40 nm). Angle-dependent soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), together with element-specific hysteresis loops at the Fe L-edge, reveals that both the pristine and swift heavy ion (SHI)-multilayer stacks display magnetic anisotropy, characterized by a decreased XMCD intensity from out-of-plane (perpendicular) to in-plane (parallel) geometry. This reduction in the XMCD intensity correlates with spin polarization, establishing a direct relationship with the TMR of the MTJ. Furthermore, the analysis confirms that TMR decreases as the measurement angle decreases. Therefore, this investigation underscores the pivotal role of spin-orbital magnetic moments in influencing the PMA and TMR properties of CoFe2O4/MgO/ZnFe2O4 MTJs.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Magnetic properties of thin films · Magnetic Properties and Synthesis of Ferrites · Theoretical and Computational Physics
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Energy Research Centre, Panjab University 1 , Chandigarh 160014,
Advanced Functional Materials Lab., Dr. S. S. Bhatnagar University Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University 2 , Chandigarh 160014,
Department of Physics, Panjab University Chandigarh 3 , Chandigarh 160014,
Beamline Division, Diamond Light Source Ltd. 4 , Oxfordshire,
Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology 5 , Pohang 37673,
Advanced Analysis and Data Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology 6 , Seoul 02792,
Funding
Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India · Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
References (27)
Show source-provided references
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