Tuning the perpendicular anisotropy of ferromagnetic films by thickness, width, and profile

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of CoPd films can be precisely tuned through variations in thickness, width, and shape, enabling control over local magnetic properties for spintronic applications.

Contribution

It introduces a method to control magnetic anisotropy by shaping and sizing ferromagnetic films, leveraging their sensitivity near the metal-insulator transition.

Findings

Anisotropy varies significantly with film thickness and morphology.

Patterned stripe width influences magnetic anisotropy.

Potential for local anisotropy control in spintronic devices.

Abstract

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy was found to be highly sensitive to the nominal thickness and morphology of laterally heterogeneous CoPd films in the vicinity of the metal insulator transition. We used the effect to tune the anisotropy by the width of lithographically patterned stripes with non-uniform cross-sectional thickness profiles. The phenomenon and the method can be suitable to control the local anisotropy of spintronic logic circuitry elements by their shape and lateral dimensions.