Probing the spiral magnetic phase in 6 nm textured erbium using polarised neutron reflectometry

N. Satchell, J. D.S. Witt, G. Burnell, P. J. Curran, C. J. Kinane, T. R. Charlton, S. Langridge, J. F.K. Cooper

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

We characterise the magnetic state of highly-textured, sputter deposited erbium for a film of thickness 6 nm. Using polarised neutron reflectometry it is found that the film has a high degree of magnetic disorder, and we present some evidence that the film's local magnetic state is consistent with bulk-like spiral magnetism. This, combined with complementary characterisation techniques, show that thin film erbium is a strong candidate material for incorporation into device structures.

Original languageEnglish
Article number055801
JournalJournal of Physics Condensed Matter
Volume29
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 8 2017
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilEP/J010634/1, EP/J010650/1

    Keywords

    • erbium
    • magnetism
    • spintronics
    • spiral magnetism
    • thin film

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