Self-organization and magnetic domain microstructure of Fe nanowire arrays

TL;DR

This study investigates how Fe nanowire arrays self-organize from thin films on W(110) surfaces and how their magnetic properties, including magnetization orientation, change during annealing, using advanced microscopy techniques.

Contribution

It demonstrates controlled self-organization of Fe nanowires and reveals the associated magnetic reorientation driven by dewetting during annealing.

Findings

Formation of periodic Fe nanowire arrays from flat films.

In-plane 90° magnetization rotation during structural transition.

Role of dewetting in self-organization and magnetization change.

Abstract

Starting from essentially flat nanometer-thick Fe films, epitaxially grown at room temperature on W(110) surfaces, we used carefully tuned annealing schedules to produce periodic arrays of nanoscale ferromagnetic wires. The structural transition from continuous films to nanowire arrays is accompanied with an in-plane 90 degree rotation of the spontaneous magnetization. Using spin-polarized low-energy electron microscopy to map the local magnetization directions while annealing, we studied the role of the dewetting mechanism on the self-organization and magnetization reorientation processes.