Ordering intermetallic alloys by ion irradiation: a way to tailor magnetic media

TL;DR

This study demonstrates how ion irradiation combined with thermal treatment can induce and control chemical ordering in FePd thin films, resulting in enhanced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy suitable for high-density magnetic recording.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method using ion irradiation and thermal mobility to tailor the chemical order and magnetic properties of intermetallic alloys.

Findings

Controlled chemical ordering via ion irradiation.

Achieved perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in FePd.

Potential application in ultrahigh density magnetic recording.

Abstract

Combining He ion irradiation and thermal mobility below 600K, we both trigger and control the transformation from chemical disorder to order in thin films of an intermetallic ferromagnet (FePd). Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations show how the initial directional short range order determines order propagation. Magnetic ordering perpendicular to the film plane was achieved, promoting the initially weak magnetic anisotropy to the highest values known for FePd films. This post-growth treatment should find applications in ultrahigh density magnetic recording.