Atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated CoGd alloys

Vertically inhomogeneous single layer ferrimagnetic films have emerged as exciting building blocks of potential next generation spintronic devices, owing to the observations of single layer switching driven by bulk spin–orbit torques resulting from broken inversion symmetry. However, little work has...

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Main Authors: Kazi Zahirul Islam, Trae Lawrence Staggers, Liyan Jacob, Tanmay Dutta, Shawn David Pollard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-06-01
Series:AIP Advances
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0277101
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author Kazi Zahirul Islam
Trae Lawrence Staggers
Liyan Jacob
Tanmay Dutta
Shawn David Pollard
author_facet Kazi Zahirul Islam
Trae Lawrence Staggers
Liyan Jacob
Tanmay Dutta
Shawn David Pollard
author_sort Kazi Zahirul Islam
collection DOAJ
description Vertically inhomogeneous single layer ferrimagnetic films have emerged as exciting building blocks of potential next generation spintronic devices, owing to the observations of single layer switching driven by bulk spin–orbit torques resulting from broken inversion symmetry. However, little work has been performed to understand the role composition gradients play in determining the bulk and local magnetic properties of these films, as well as how changes introduced through composition gradients influence the switching behavior. We utilize atomistic spin simulations to explore how the local magnetization varies in CoGd alloys, both due to the decreased coordination number at surfaces and due to vertical inhomogeneities, and how this influences the switching fields in these films. While compositional modulation varies the local compensation point through the film thickness, it has no significant effect on the net compensation temperature of the alloy if the average composition stays the same, even with large variations. However, even minor variations in composition can drastically reduce the out-of-plane coercivity or even preclude perpendicular anisotropy entirely. Furthermore, the direction of the gradient determines the surface on which field driven magnetization reversal initiates, which can have design implications for future devices. This provides new insights into the role that composition gradients in ferrimagnetics play in magnetization reversal.
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spelling doaj-art-161ce5db7a5143c2aa2fadaf73b36d532025-08-20T03:28:52ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262025-06-01156065112065112-710.1063/5.0277101Atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated CoGd alloysKazi Zahirul Islam0Trae Lawrence Staggers1Liyan Jacob2Tanmay Dutta3Shawn David Pollard4Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USADepartment of Physics and Materials Science, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USADepartment of Physics and Materials Science, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USADepartment of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 781039, IndiaDepartment of Physics and Materials Science, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USAVertically inhomogeneous single layer ferrimagnetic films have emerged as exciting building blocks of potential next generation spintronic devices, owing to the observations of single layer switching driven by bulk spin–orbit torques resulting from broken inversion symmetry. However, little work has been performed to understand the role composition gradients play in determining the bulk and local magnetic properties of these films, as well as how changes introduced through composition gradients influence the switching behavior. We utilize atomistic spin simulations to explore how the local magnetization varies in CoGd alloys, both due to the decreased coordination number at surfaces and due to vertical inhomogeneities, and how this influences the switching fields in these films. While compositional modulation varies the local compensation point through the film thickness, it has no significant effect on the net compensation temperature of the alloy if the average composition stays the same, even with large variations. However, even minor variations in composition can drastically reduce the out-of-plane coercivity or even preclude perpendicular anisotropy entirely. Furthermore, the direction of the gradient determines the surface on which field driven magnetization reversal initiates, which can have design implications for future devices. This provides new insights into the role that composition gradients in ferrimagnetics play in magnetization reversal.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0277101
spellingShingle Kazi Zahirul Islam
Trae Lawrence Staggers
Liyan Jacob
Tanmay Dutta
Shawn David Pollard
Atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated CoGd alloys
AIP Advances
title Atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated CoGd alloys
title_full Atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated CoGd alloys
title_fullStr Atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated CoGd alloys
title_full_unstemmed Atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated CoGd alloys
title_short Atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated CoGd alloys
title_sort atomistic modeling of temperature dependent coercivity and switching behavior in compositionally modulated cogd alloys
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0277101
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