Abstract
We have performed first-principles calculations to study the interfacial exchange coupling and magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy in a SmCo/SmCo multilayer model system. The phase of SmCo and SmCo stacking along (0001) direction are structurally well matched. The atomic structure, including the alignment and the separation between layers, were firstly optimized. Then the non-collinear magnetic structures were calculated to explore the exchange coupling across the interface and the variation of magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy. We found that the inter-phase exchange coupling strength, rotating behavior and magnetocrystalline anisotropy strongly depend on the atomic thickness of the SmCo and SmCo phase.
Highlights
Since Kneller and Hawig’s pioneering work [1] on composite permanent magnetic materials consisting of a mixture of hard and soft magnetic phases, exchange coupled permanent magnets have been extensively studied to achieve high maximum energy product values [2,3,4,5]
Many remanence-enhanced magnets based on nanocrystalline mixtures of the hard and soft phases have been found [8,9,10], and the maximum energy product values have been expected to be enhanced in these hard/soft composite systems, by combining large magnetic anisotropy of a hard phase and high saturation magnetization of a soft phase [11]
The origin of large magnetocrystalline anisotropy is ascribed to the spin-orbit induced mixing between 4 f and 3d orbitals at the interface between the hard and soft phases
Summary
Since Kneller and Hawig’s pioneering work [1] on composite permanent magnetic materials consisting of a mixture of hard and soft magnetic phases, exchange coupled permanent magnets have been extensively studied to achieve high maximum energy product values [2,3,4,5]. Shape of their demagnetization curves is similar with that of typical single-phase materials, these materials consist of two ferromagnetic phases, at least [6,7]. Since Sm2 Co17 has both a high Curie temperature and a high magnetocrystalline anisotropy [16,17,18,19], it is an important material system to overcome magnetically hard/soft mixtures
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
