Critical behavior of zero-field magnetic fluctuations in perpendicularly magnetized thin films

Published

November 4, 2014

Author(s)

Andrew L. Balk, Mark D. Stiles, John Unguris

Abstract

We use video-rate magneto optical Kerr effect (MOKE) microscopy to study zero field magnetic fluctuations in a perpendicularly magnetized cobalt film at room temperature, prepared near a spin reorientation transition. Globally, the film has zero net moment but local areas continually undergo thermal magnetic fluctuations between saturated states. Position resolved hysteresis loops show the fluctuations occur at sample locations close to the spin reorientation transition. Furthermore, nearby fluctuations interact magnetostatically, acting to maintain the overall zero net magnetization. The measured scaling exponent of the fluctuation areas τ is consistent with 4/3.

Citation

Physical Review B

Volume

90

Issue

18

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.184404

Keywords

Critical Phenomenon, Ultra-thin Magnetization, Spin Reorientation Transition, Critical Fluctuation, Scaling Exponent

Citation

Balk, A. , Stiles, M. and Unguris, J. (2014), Critical behavior of zero-field magnetic fluctuations in perpendicularly magnetized thin films, Physical Review B, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.184404 (Accessed October 23, 2025)