Nonuniform thermal reversal in single-domain patterned media

Author

Dittrich, Rok ; Schrefl, Thomas ; Suess, Dieter ; Scholz, Werner ; Fidler, Josef

Author_Institution

Inst. of Solid State Phys., Vienna Univ. of Technol., Wien, Austria

Volume

40

Issue

4

fYear

2004

fDate

7/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2507

Lastpage

2509

Abstract

Patterned media shows great potential for future ultrahigh-density magnetic recording. The thermal stability is determined by the relevant transition states. We apply the nudged elastic band method to calculate energy barriers and thermal reversal modes as a function of the island size and intergrain exchange coupling. Nonuniform reversal modes and transition states are found even in single-domain islands. The resulting energy barriers are significantly lower than those estimated from simplified reversal modes.

Keywords

band model of magnetism; diffusion barriers; exchange interactions (electron); magnetic recording; magnetic transitions; magnetisation reversal; thermal stability; energy barriers; intergrain exchange coupling; island size; minimum energy path; nonuniform reversal modes; nonuniform thermal reversal; nudged elastic band method; single-domain islands; single-domain particle; single-domain patterned media; thermal reversal modes; thermal stability; transition states; ultrahigh-density magnetic recording; Amorphous magnetic materials; Crystalline materials; Energy barrier; Magnetic films; Magnetic materials; Magnetic recording; Magnetic separation; Magnetization; Switches; Thermal stability; Energy barriers; intergrain coupling; minimum energy path; nonuniform reversal modes; nudged elastic band method; patterned media; single-domain particle; thermal stability;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMAG.2004.834204

Filename

1325553