Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
06:49
Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering of GdBa2Cu3O7−δ/ La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 Quasi-bilayer Films on SrTiO3 (STO) Single-crystal Substrates
Published on: April 12, 2019
Forcing ferromagnetic coupling between rare-earth-metal and 3d ferromagnetic films
Biplab Sanyal1, Carolin Antoniak, Till Burkert
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden. Biplab.Sanyal@fysik.uu.se
Physical Review Letters
|May 21, 2010
Summary
Researchers explored magnetic nanocomposites of rare-earth and 3d transition metals. Huge magnetic moments were achieved, showing potential for advanced magnetic materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computational Materials Science
Background:
- Nanocomposites integrating rare-earth (RE) and 3d transition metals offer unique magnetic properties.
- Understanding the interplay between RE and transition metal elements is crucial for designing novel magnetic materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the magnetic properties of rare-earth/3d transition metal nanocomposites using theoretical calculations.
- To explore the potential for achieving large magnetic moments in these systems.
Main Methods:
- Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were employed to study magnetic properties.
- Thin-film synthesis of Fe/Gd and Fe/Cr/Gd nanocomposites was performed.
- X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) was used for experimental validation.
Main Results:
- Calculations predicted the possibility of achieving substantial magnetic moments (around 10 Bohr magnetons per rare-earth atom).
- The magnetic moments approach those found in high-performance Fe-Co alloys on the Slater-Pauling curve.
- Experimental synthesis and characterization confirmed the potential of these nanocomposite structures.
Conclusions:
- Rare-earth/3d transition metal nanocomposites can exhibit exceptionally large magnetic moments.
- These findings pave the way for developing new magnetic materials with tailored properties.
- The combination of theoretical prediction and experimental validation is effective for exploring novel magnetic phenomena.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Ferromagnetism
Materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt consist of magnetic domains, within which the magnetic dipoles are arranged parallel to each other. The magnetic dipoles are rigidly aligned in the same direction within a domain by quantum mechanical coupling among the atoms. This coupling is so strong that even thermal agitation at room temperature cannot break it. The result is that each domain has a net dipole moment. However, some materials have weaker coupling, and are ferromagnetic at lower...
01:28Magnetostatic Boundary Conditions
An electric field suffers a discontinuity at a surface charge. Similarly, a magnetic field is discontinuous at a surface current. The perpendicular component of a magnetic field is continuous across the interface of two magnetic mediums. In contrast, its parallel component, perpendicular to the current, is discontinuous by the amount equal to the product of the vacuum permeability and the surface current. Like the scalar potential in electrostatics, the vector potential is also continuous...
01:26Diamagnetism
Materials consisting of paired electrons have zero net magnetic moments. However, when these materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Such materials are called diamagnets. Diamagnetism is the response of the diamagnets when placed in an external magnetic field.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
01:30Paramagnetism
Paramagnets are materials with unpaired electrons that possess a finite magnetic moment. In the absence of a magnetic field, these moments are randomly oriented, and thus the net moment is zero. Under an external field, a torque acting on the moments tends to align them along the field's direction. However, the random thermal motion of electrons produces a torque opposite to the external field and tries to disorient the moments. These two competing effects align only a few moments along the...
01:13Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel Currents
Two long, straight, and parallel current-carrying conductors exert a force of equal magnitude on one another. The direction of the force depends on the current direction in the conductors.
The force exerted by the magnetic field due to the first conductor over a finite length of the second conductor is given as the product of the current in the second conductor and the vector product of the length vector along the current element and the field due to the first conductor. According to the...
The force exerted by the magnetic field due to the first conductor over a finite length of the second conductor is given as the product of the current in the second conductor and the vector product of the length vector along the current element and the field due to the first conductor. According to the...
01:27Magnetic Field Due To A Thin Straight Wire
Consider an infinitely long straight wire carrying a current I. The magnetic field at point P at a distance a from the origin can be calculated using the Biot-Savart law.