Surface magnetic phase diagram for a semi-infinite ferromagnet

Published

October 12, 2001

Author(s)

Pavel Kabos, David P. Pappas

Abstract

The phase diagram for the orientation of the surface region is calculated in the parameter space defined by the surface and bulk anisotropy in semi-infinite ferromagnetic systems and in thin ferromagnet films. Surface magnetic canting always occurs when the magnitude of the surface anisotropy is comparable with the interlayer exchange interaction. Increasing the thickness of a thin film supported on a hard magnetic substrate induces a spin reorientation transition from the uniform, in-plane magnetic structure to a canted. state. The inverse spin reorientation transition from the canted state to the uniform, in-plane magnetic structure with thickness is demonstrated for a thin film supported on a nonmagentic substrate. A discrete layer-by-layer approach is developed and compared to the continuum approach. We consider the 1.5 atomic-layer system of Fe on Gd and find that it is a good physical realization of the model.

Citation

Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics)

Volume

64

Issue

184401

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

anisotropy, magnetic, phase diagram, surface magnetism

Citation

Kabos, P. and Pappas, D. (2001), Surface magnetic phase diagram for a semi-infinite ferromagnet, Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics) (Accessed October 11, 2025)