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Relaxation Times for Magnetization Reversal in a High Coercivity Magnetic Thin Film

Published

Author(s)

Thomas J. Silva, Anthony B. Kos, N D. Rizzo

Abstract

We used a magneto-optical Kerr effect microscope to measure 180° magnetization reversal in a high coercivity CoCr10Ta4 thin film subjected to nanosecond field pulses. Exponential magnetization decay occurs for pulse duration tp10 ns, indicating a crossover from nonequilibrium magnetization relaxation at short tp to metastable equilibrium and thermal relaxation for longer tp. We conclude that the nonequilibrium magnetization relaxation time (τn) and that the average relaxation time of microscopic thermal fluctuations (τ0) is τn = τ0≈5 ns.
Citation
Physical Review Letters
Volume
93
Issue
23

Citation

Silva, T. , Kos, A. and Rizzo, N. (1999), Relaxation Times for Magnetization Reversal in a High Coercivity Magnetic Thin Film, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=905315 (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created March 17, 1999, Updated February 19, 2017