Magnetic Order in Artificial Structures

Abstract: The topic of this thesis is the investigation of the magnetic properties of artificially created magnetic structures. Applying different characterization techniques, ranging from direct imaging methods to reciprocal space techniques, the properties of lithographically patterned arrays of magnetic thin film and multilayer elements are investigated by exploring their magnetic state, extending from the atomic scale up to collective ordering phenomena of nano-magnetic elements.Laterally patterned amorphous multilayer arrays of combined circular and ellipsoidal islands were investigated. The arrays contain a variety of length scales, ranging from their nanometer scale multilayer structure to their lateral periodicity in the micrometer range. The attributes of these arrays are explored using different techniques, applicable for addressing the magnetization at different length scales, including magneto-optical techniques, micromagnetic simulations and x-ray resonant magnetic scattering.Arrays of dipole interacting elongated magnetic elements composed of Pd(Fe) thin films were investigated. Pd(Fe) films have a low Curie temperature which can be tuned by the thickness of the Fe layer embedded in Pd. By this, the interaction and the shape anisotropy energies can be brought down to energy scales comparable to room temperature enabling the possibility of investigating the effect of thermal excitations on such arrays. The temperature dependent magnetization of an artificial square spin ice array was investigated by magneto-optical measurements demonstrating the possibility of observing an order-disorder transition in an artificial square spin ice system. The role of dipolar interactions and the possibility of achieving thermal ground state ordering was then further investigated by magnetically sensitive photoemission electron microscopy imaging of ring arrangements of elongated Pd(Fe) elements. The results reveal a high probability of achieving a thermal ground state ordering of the magnetization of the islands.