The control of in-plane magnetic anisotropy by ion irradiation

Abstract

The increase of bit density is a critical point in the magnetic storage media. We intend to manipulate the easy axis in ferromagnetic thin films with ion irradiation technique. Co/Pt multilayered films were prepared for the study and then were ion-irradiated while an external magnetic field was applied to them. In consequence, we get a CoPt alloy film with an in-plane easy axis and change its direction with an external magnetic field applied during the irradiation. The energetic ion beam let the ferromagnetic film have a new atomic and magnetic structure. (C) 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.