The effect of magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the domain structure of patterned Fe2CrSi Heusler alloy thin films

T. Miyawaki, M. Foerster, S. Finizio, C. A. F. Vaz, M.-A. Mawass, K. Inagaki, N. Fukatani, L. Le Guyader, F. Nolting, K. Ueda, H. Asano, M. Kläui
2013 Journal of Applied Physics  
The effects of magnetic anisotropy on domain structures in half-metallic Heusler alloy Fe 2 CrSi thin film elements were investigated using high resolution x-ray magnetic circular dichroism photoemission electron microscopy. The transition of the dominating contribution from the magnetocrystalline anisotropy to the shape anisotropy is observed in square-shaped elements when reducing the size below 2.0-2.5 lm. In particular, we identify in disk-shaped Heusler elements the vortex state as the
more » ... nd state. The shape-anisotropy dominated, well-defined magnetization configuration shows the potential of the Fe 2 CrSi Heusler alloy for applications in vortex-core-or domain-wall-devices, where the high spin polarization is desirable. V C 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.
doi:10.1063/1.4818800 fatcat:aukkfpaejzc7lmie24nnh6vfba