Simulation study of the Gilbert damping in Ni₈₀Fe₂₀/Nd bilayers: comparison with experiments

Area of Science:

• Spintronics
• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

• Understanding magnetic damping is crucial for spintronic device performance.
• Nickel-Iron (Py) and Neodymium (Nd) bilayers are promising for spintronic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the Neodymium thickness dependence of effective damping constant (αeff) in Py/Nd bilayers.
• Explore the role of interface mixing and spin accumulation in magnetic damping.
• Examine the temperature dependence of magnetic damping in these bilayers.

Main Methods:

• Experimental measurements of effective damping.
• Computational simulations using self-consistent solutions of spin accumulation and local magnetization models.
• Analysis of temperature-dependent magnetic damping.

Main Results:

• Magnetic damping shows a strong dependence on Neodymium layer thickness, consistent with experimental data.
• Enhanced damping due to spin pumping requires distribution across two Py monolayers, suggesting interface mixing.
• Thermally-induced spin fluctuations increasingly influence magnetic damping with rising temperature and Neodymium thickness.

Conclusions:

• Interface mixing significantly affects magnetic damping in Py/Nd bilayers.
• Neodymium thickness and temperature are critical factors controlling magnetic damping and spin dynamics.
• The findings provide insights for designing advanced spintronic devices with tailored magnetic properties.