arXiv subjects

Y. Sakuraba

Publications and source records attributed to Y. Sakuraba.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Enhancing atomic ordering, magnetic and transport properties of Mn2VGa Heusler alloy thin films toward negatively spin-polarized charge injection

Magnetic materials with negative spin polarization have attracted attention for their potential to increase the design freedom of spintronic devices. This study investigated the effects of off-stoichiometry on the atomic ordering, microstructure, and magneto-transport properties in Mn2+xV1-xGa (x = -0.2, 0, +0.2, +0.4) Heusler alloy films, which are predicted to have large negative spin polarization derived from a pseudo band gap in the majority spin channel. The Mn2+xV1-xGa films epitaxially grown on MgO(001) substrates exhibits variations of B2 and L21 order with the Mn concentration. A high-quality L21 ordered film was achieved in the Mn-rich composition (x = +0.2) with B2 and L21 order parameters of 0.97 and 0.86, respectively, and a saturation magnetization of 1.4 {\mu}B/f.u, which agrees the Slater-Pauling rule. Scanning transmission electron microscopy observations showed that B2 and L21 phases coexist in Mn-poor and stoichiometric films, while the L21 phase is dominant in the Mn-rich film with small amounts of Mn-V and Mn-Ga disorders, as revealed by laboratory and anomalous X-ray diffraction. Combined first-principles calculations and anisotropic magnetoresistance analysis confirm that the addition of excess Mn preserves the high spin polarization by suppressing the formation of detrimental antisites of V atoms occupying Mn sites. Therefore, the Mn-rich composition is promising for negatively spin-polarized charge injection in Mn2VGa-based spintronic applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Spin-scattering asymmetry at half-metallic ferromagnet/ferromagnet interface

We study spin-scattering asymmetry at the interface of two ferromagnets (FMs) based on a half-metallic Co$_{2}$Fe$_{0.4}$Mn$_{0.6}$Si (CFMS)/CoFe interface. First-principles ballistic transport calculations based on Landauer formula for (001)-CoFe/CFMS/CoFe indicate strong spin-dependent conductance at the CFMS/CoFe interface, suggesting a large interface spin-scattering asymmetry coefficient ($γ$). Fully epitaxial current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) pseudo-spin-valve (PSV) devices involving CoFe/CFMS/Ag/CFMS/CoFe structures exhibit an enhancement in MR output owing to the formation of the CFMS/CoFe interface at room temperature (RT). This is well reproduced qualitatively by a simulation based on a generalized two-current series-resistor model with considering the presence of $γ$ at the CFMS/CoFe interface, half-metallicity of CFMS, and combinations of terminated atoms at the interfaces in the CPP-GMR PSV structure. We show direct evidence for a large $γ$ at a half-metallic FM/FM interface and its impact on CPP-GMR effect even at RT.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Enhancement of anomalous Nernst effect in Ni/Pt superlattice

We report an enhancement of the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) in Ni/Pt (001) epitaxial superlattices. The transport and magneto-thermoelectric properties were investigated for the Ni/Pt superlattices with various Ni layer thicknesses (${\it t}$). The anomalous Nernst coefficient was increased up to more than 1 $μ$V K$^{-1}$ for 2.0 nm ${\leq}$ ${\it t}$ ${\leq}$ 4.0 nm, which was the remarkable enhancement compared to the bulk Ni. It has been found that the large transverse Peltier coefficient ($α$$_{xy}$), reaching $α$$_{xy}$ = 4.8 A K$^{-1}$ m$^{-1}$ for ${\it t}$ = 4.0 nm, plays a prime role for the enhanced ANE of the Ni/Pt (001) superlattices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Heat flux sensing by anomalous Nernst effect in Fe-Al thin films on a flexible substrate

We performed a numerical analysis of the material parameters required for realizing a heat flux sensor exploiting the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE). The results showed the importance of high thermopower of ANE ($S_{\text{ANE}}$) and small saturation magnetization. This motivated us to investigate the effect of Al substitution of Fe on ANE and found $S_{\text{ANE}} =$ 3.4 $μ$V/K in Fe$_{81}$Al$_{19}$ because of the dominant intrinsic mechanism. Using this material, we made a prototype ANE-based heat flux sensor on a thin flexible polyimide sheet and demonstrated accurate sensing with it. This study gives important information for enhancing sensor sensitivity.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Fermi level tuning and atomic ordering induced giant anomalous Nernst effect in Co2MnAl1-xSix Heusler alloy

Co2MnAl has been predicted to have Weyl points near Fermi level which is expected to give rise to exotic transverse transport properties such as large anomalous Hall(AHE) and Nernst effects(ANE) due to large Berry curvature. In this study, the effect of Fermi level position and atomic ordering on AHE and ANE in Co2MnAl1-xSix were studied systematically. The Co2MnAl film keeps B2-disordred structure regardless of annealing temperature, which results in much smaller anomalous Hall conductivity sigma_xy and transverse Peltier coefficient sigma_xy than those calculated for L21-ordered Co2MnAl. Our newly performed calculation of sigma_xy with taking B2 disordering into account well reproduces experimental result, thus it was concluded that Berry curvature originating from Weyl points is largely reduced by B2 disordering. It was also revealed Al substitution with Si shifts the position of Fermi level and improves the L21-atomic ordering largely, leading to strong enhancement of sigma_xy, which also agreed with our theoretical calculation. The highest thermopower of ANE of 6.1uV, which is comparable to the recent reports for Co2MnGa, was observed for Co2MnAl0.63Si0.37 because of dominant contribution of sigma_xy. This study clearly shows the importance of both Fermi level tuning and high atomic ordering for obtaining the effect of topological feature in Co-based Heusler alloys on transverse transport properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Strategic enhancement of anomalous Nernst effect in Co2MnAl1-xSix Heusler compounds

The anomalous Nernst effect (ANE), a thermoelectric phenomenon in magnetic materials, has potential for novel energy harvesting applications because its orthogonal relationship between the temperature gradient and the electric field enables us to utilize the large area of non-flat heat sources. In this study, the required thermopower of ANE for practical energy harvesting applications is evaluated in simulations of electric power obtainable from ANE using a low-temperature heat source. A strategy for finding magnetic materials having large ANEs is proposed, which suggests that a large ANE originates from the constructive relationship between large Seebeck, anomalous Hall, and transverse Peltier effects. This strategy leads us to investigate the electric and thermoelectric properties in Co2MnAl1-xSix. As a result, it is found that Co2MnAl0.63Si0.37 has the largest ANE thermopower ever reported, 6.2 uV/K. A first principles calculation of the anomalous Hall conductivity and transverse Peltier coefficient in B2 and L21-ordered Co2MnAl0.63Si0.37 shows close agreement with the experimental results, indicating that the observed large ANE arises from the intrinsic Berry phase curvature of Co2MnAl1-xSix. This study can be a guide for developing materials for new thermoelectric applications using ANE.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Inducing out-of-plane precession of magnetization for microwave assisted magnetic recording using an oscillating polarizer in spin torque oscillator

We investigated the dynamics of a novel design of spin torque oscillator (STO) for microwave assisted magnetic recording. Using Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20}$ (NiFe) as the polarizer and Fe$_{67}$Co$_{33}$ (FeCo) as the field generating layer, we experimentally observed the magnetization reversal of NiFe, followed by multiple signals in the power spectra as the bias voltage increased. The signals reflected the out-of-plane precession (OPP) mode oscillation of both FeCo and NiFe, as well as the magnetoresistance effect of the STO device, which had the frequency equal to the difference between the oscillation frequency of NiFe and FeCo. Such dynamics were reproduced by micromagnetic simulation. In addition to the merit of realizing the OPP mode oscillation with a simple and thin structure suitable for a narrow gap recording head, the experimental results using this design suggested that a large cone angle of $\sim$ 70$^{\circ}$ for the OPP mode oscillation of FeCo was achieved, which was estimated based on the macrospin model.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Structure-property relationship of Co$_2$MnSi thin films in response to He$^+$ -irradiation

We investigated the structure-property relationship of Co$_2$MnSi Heusler thin films upon the irradiation with He$^+$ ions. The variation of the crystal structure with increasing ion fluence has been probed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and associated with the corresponding changes of the magnetic behavior. A decrease of both the structural order and the moment in saturation is observed. Specifically, we detect a direct transition from a highly $L2_1$-ordered to a fully $A2$-disordered structure type and quantify the evolution of the $A2$ structural contribution as a function of ion fluence. Complementary TEM analysis reveals a spatially-resolved distribution of the $L2_1$ and $A2$ phases showing that the $A2$ disorder starts at the upper part of the films. The structural degradation in turn leads to a decreasing magnetic moment in saturation in response to the increasing fluence.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2009

Determination of exchange constants of Heusler compounds by Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy: application to Co$_2$MnSi

Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy from so-called standing spin waves in thin magnetic films is often used to determine the magnetic exchange constant. The data analysis of the experimentally determined spin-wave modes requires an unambiguous assignment to the correct spin wave mode orders. Often additional investigations are needed to guarantee correct assignment. This is particularly important in the case of Heusler compounds where values of the exchange constant vary substantially between different compounds. As a showcase, we report on the determination of the exchange constant (exchange stiffness constant) in Co$_2$MnSi, which is found to be $A=2.35\pm0.1$ $μ$erg/cm ($D=575\pm20$ meV Å$^2$), a value comparable to the value of the exchange constant of Co.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Improvement of structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of Co$_2$MnSi thin films by He$^+$-irradiation

The influence of 30 keV He$^+$ ion irradiation on structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Co$_2$MnSi thin films with B2 order was investigated. It was found, that irradiation with light ions can improve the local chemical order. This provokes changes of the electronic structure and element-specific magnetization towards the bulk properties of the well-ordered Co$_2$MnSi Heusler compound with L2$_1$ structure.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

Non-quasiparticle states in Co$_2$MnSi evidenced through magnetic tunnel junction spectroscopy measurements

We investigate the effects of electronic correlations in the full-Heusler Co$_2$MnSi, by combining a theoretical analysis of the spin-resolved density of states with tunneling-conductance spectroscopy measurements using Co$_2$MnSi as electrode. Both experimental and theoretical results confirm the existence of so-called non-quasiparticle states and their crucial contribution to the finite-temperature spin polarisation in this material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Influence of the L21 ordering degree on the magnetic properties in Co2MnSi Heusler films

We report on the influence of the improved L21 ordering degree on the magnetic properties of Co2MnSi Heusler films. Different fractions of the L21 phase are obtained by different post-growth annealing temperatures ranging from 350 degC to 500 degC. Room temperature magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements reveal an increase of the coercivity at an intermediate annealing temperature of 425 degC, which is a fingerprint of an increased number of pinning centers at this temperature. Furthermore, Brillouin light scattering studies show that the improvement of the L21 order in the Co2MnSi films is correlated with a decrease of the saturation magnetization by about 9%. The exchange stiffness constant of Co2MnSi, however, increases by about 8% when the L21 order is improved. Moreover, we observe a drop of the cubic anisotropy constant K1 by a factor of 10 for an increasing amount of the L21 phase.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2004

Structure and magnetism in nanocrystalline Ca(La)B$_6$ films

Nanocrystalline films of La-doped CaB$_6$ have been fabricated by using a rf-magnetron sputtering. Lattice expansion of up to 6% with respect to the bulk value was observed along the direction perpendicular to the film plane, which arises from the trapping of Ar gas into the film. Large ferromagnetic moment of 3 ~ 4 Bohr magneton per La has been observed in some La-doped films only when the lattice expansion rate is larger than 2.5%.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗