Radu, F.; Sánchez-Barriga, J.: Ferrimagnetic Heterostructures for Applications in Magnetic Recording. In: Natalia Domracheva ... [Ed.] : Novel Magnetic NanostructuresAmsterdam: Elsevier, 2018 Micro and Nano Technologies. - ISBN 978-0-12-813594-5, p. 267-331
10.1016/B978-0-12-813594-5.00009-6
Open Access Version
(available 01.01.3000)Abstract:
We provide an overview of key fundamental aspects of a vastly growing field of research involving ferrimagnetic heterostructures, with special focus on their functionality in magnetic recording. We firstly describe various important achievements involving the transition to perpendicular magnetic recording and the concomitant increase of the areal density of magnetic bits, and analyze their future progress. This comprises emergent technologies such as heat-assisted magnetic recording, bit-patterned media as well as novel ways of controlling the magnetization through spin-transfer torques, spin Hall and Rashba-Edelstein effects, including their extension to the case of topological states of matter. Next, we highlight the discovery of all-optical switching in ferrimagnets, which offers unique possibilities for increasing the writing speeds via light-matter interaction. This effect has led to a tremendous interest in incorporating ferrimagnetic materials in magnetic memory devices. For this purpose, tunability of intrinsic magnetic properties of ferrimagnetic alloys is critically important. By highlighting exemplary investigations, we demonstrate the unique properties of ferrimagnets, such as magnetic compensation, spin reorientation, or noncollinear magnetic states, which allow for enhanced tunability of functional spintronic devices. In this respect, the miniaturization required to achieve ultrahigh areal bit densities leads to new fundamental challenges in both growth of magnetic nanostructures and control of magnetic properties of ferrimagnets in low dimensions. To this end, we discuss new functionalities of ferrimagnetic nanostructures that pave the way for their incorporation into established concepts of magnetic recording.