Exchange stiffness in the Co2FeSi Heusler compound
Using Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy, we determine the spin-wave exchange stiffness D and the exchange constant A for thin films of the full Heusler compound Co2FeSi prepared by pulsed laser deposition. The thermal spin-wave spectra were measured in various magnetic fields, for different transferred spin-wave momenta, and for different film thicknesses. Fitting the observed spin-wave frequencies, we find an extraordinarily large value of
Effect of annealing on Co2FeAl0.5Si0.5thin films: A magneto-optical and x-ray absorption study
A series of Al and MgO-capped Co${}_{2}$FeAl${}_{0.5}$Si${}_{0.5}$ epitaxial thin films grown on MgO with various levels of L2${}_{1}$ ordering was obtained by in situ annealing. The films were studied by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), magneto-optical Kerr effect magnetometry, and Brillouin light scattering. We find the anisotropy constants decrease, while the spin wave stiffness increases as the samples are annealed to higher temperatures. The magnetization as determined by Brillouin light scattering reveals a maximum value at intermediate annealing temperatures. Surprisingly, the orbital-to-spin-moment ratio (as seen from XMCD) is essenti…
Brillouin light scattering study of Co$_{2}$Cr$_{0.6}$Fe$_{0.4}$Al and Co$_{2}$FeAl Heusler compounds
The thermal magnonic spectra of Co$_{2}$Cr$_{0.6}$Fe$_{0.4}$Al (CCFA) and Co$_2$FeAl were investigated using Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy (BLS). For CCFA, the exchange constant A (exchange stiffness D) is found to be 0.48 $\mu$erg/cm (203 meV A$^2$), while for Co$_2$FeAl the corresponding values of 1.55 $\mu$erg/cm (370 meV A$^2$) were found. The observed asymmetry in the BLS spectra between the Stokes and anti-Stokes frequencies was assigned to an interplay between the asymmetrical profiles of hybridized Damon-Esbach and perpendicular standing spin-wave modes, combined with the optical sensitivity of the BLS signal to the upper side of the CCFA or Co$_2$FeAl film.
Structure determination of thin CoFe films by anomalous x-ray diffraction
This work reports on the investigation of structure-property relationships in thin CoFe films grown on MgO. Because of the very similar scattering factors of Fe and Co, it is not possible to distinguish the random A2 (W-type) structure from the ordered B2 (CsCl-type) structure with commonly used x-ray sources. Synchrotron radiation based anomalous x-ray diffraction overcomes this problem. It is shown that as grown thin films and 300 K post annealed films exhibit the A2 structure with a random distribution of Co and Fe. In contrast, films annealed at 400 K adopt the ordered B2 structure.
Elektrónová a pásová štruktúra CuMnAs študovaná optickou a fotoemissinou spektroskopiou
Tetragonal phase of CuMnAs progressively appears as one of the key materials for antiferromagnetic spintronics due to efficient current-induced spin-orbit torques whose existence can be directly inferred from crystal symmetry. Theoretical understanding of spintronic phenomena in this material, however, relies on the detailed knowledge of electronic structure (band structure and corresponding wave functions) which has so far been tested only to a limited extent. We show that AC permittivity (obtained from ellipsometry) and UV photoelectron spectra agree with density functional calculations. Together with the x-ray diffraction and precession electron diffraction tomography, our analysis confi…
Electronic structure and optical, mechanical, and transport properties of the pure, electron-doped, and hole-doped Heusler compound CoTiSb
The Heusler compound CoTiSb was synthesized and investigated theoretically and experimentally with respect to electronic structure and optical, mechanical, and vibrational properties. The optical properties were investigated in a wide spectral range from 10 meV to 6.5 eV and compared with ab initio calculations. The optical spectra confirm the semiconducting nature of CoTiSb, with a strong exciton absorption at 1.83 eV. The calculated phonon dispersion as well as elastic constants verify the mechanical stability of CoTiSb in the cubic $C{1}_{b}$ system. Furthermore, solid solution series of CoTi${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$${M}_{x}$Sb ($M=\text{Sc}$, V and $0\ensuremath{\leqslant}x\ensuremath{\le…