Influence of external magnetic fields on growth of alloy nanoclusters

TL;DR

This study uses kinetic Monte Carlo simulations to explore how external magnetic fields affect the growth and magnetic properties of alloy nanoclusters, revealing potential enhancements in magnetic anisotropy during synthesis.

Contribution

It introduces a kinetic model for simulating magnetic alloy nanocluster growth under external fields, highlighting field-induced enhancements in magnetic anisotropy and ordering.

Findings

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy can be enhanced during growth.

Significant shift in L1_2 ordering temperature with magnetic field.

Stronger effects expected in L1_0 ordered alloys.

Abstract

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations are performed to study the influence of external magnetic fields on the growth of magnetic fcc binary alloy nanoclusters with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The underlying kinetic model is designed to describe essential structural and magnetic properties of CoPt_3-type clusters grown on a weakly interacting substrate through molecular beam epitaxy. The results suggest that perpendicular magnetic anisotropy can be enhanced when the field is applied during growth. For equilibrium bulk systems a significant shift of the onset temperature for L1_2 ordering is found, in agreement with predictions from Landau theory. Stronger field induced effects can be expected for magnetic fcc-alloys undergoing L1_0 ordering.