Magnetic domains in ultrathin, bulk-like and proximity-coupled Europium Oxide

TL;DR

This study investigates magnetic domain patterns and dynamics in EuO thin films of varying thicknesses using Kerr microscopy and simulations, revealing thickness-dependent magnetic properties and proximity effects.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental analysis of magnetic domains in EuO films, combining microscopy and micromagnetic simulations to understand their behavior and proximity effects.

Findings

Thickness influences critical temperature and coercivity.

Proximity effect induces antiferromagnetic coupling.

Micromagnetic simulations reveal magnetization reversal dynamics.

Abstract

The control of electron spins in materials that are simultaneously ferromagnetic and insulating opens up a wealth of quantum phenomena in spin-based electronics. Thin films of europium oxide (EuO) are ideal for the generation and manipulation of spin-polarized states, but so far there are no experimental literature reports on the magnetic domain patterns for EuO. However, at these microscopic length scales, magnetic relaxation between the remanent and demagnetized states takes place in any spintronic device. This relaxation process involves displacements of magnetic domain walls and can therefore be strongly influenced by the film structure and thickness. Here we present an investigation of the temperature-dependent behavior of magnetic domains and hysteresis in bulk-like (25 nm) and ultrathin (3 nm) EuO films. Magneto-optical Kerr microscopy is used, a technique that is a valuable tool to explore microscopic features such as spin dynamics and magnetic domain walls. Significant Kerr rotation in EuO led to high-contrast magnetic domain images in thick films, facilitating observation of domain dynamics. The critical temperature (TC) and coercivity shows strong thickness-dependent variations. The analysis and comparison of hysteresis loops and domain imaging in EuO and EuO/Co reveal proximity effect-induced antiferromagnetic coupling of both layers. To elucidate the magnetization reversal dynamics in EuO, micromagnetic simulations using MuMax3 were performed below and above TC. This comprehensive approach aims to comprehend the impact of magnetism and magnetic proximity effect in EuO on the micromagnetic scale, potentially extending its magnetic ordering beyond TC.