Study of magnetization reversal mechanism of very thin film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy by means of the anomalous Hall effect

Abstract

In this study, magnetization reversal of a Co–Cr very thin film with rectangular area of 1.0×1.0 cm2 was observed by means of the anomalous Hall effect. The amplitude of the Hall voltage VH took the maximum and minimum values when magnetic field was applied perpendicular and parallel to the film plane, respectively. The hysteresis loop observed in perpendicular direction exhibited the largest lean for the film deposited at substrate temperature Ts of 100 °C. It was found that for the film with a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant, VH is independent to the angle of applied field. The Hall loop of the Co–Cr film 150 Å thick revealed its shape more similar to a Kerr loop than a vibrating sample magnetometer loop. The VH–H measurement is useful to evaluate the magnetization process of very thin films without the perturbation of the magnetization component from the substrates and the specimen folder in the measurement system especially for the case of obliquely applied magnetic field condition.