Fabrication of Magnetic Nanowires
To explore another possible use of the Cr nanostructures fabricated by laser-focused atomic deposition, we have made use of shadow deposition to create an array of ~104 Fe nanowires, each approximately 100 nm wide and 150 µm long. Using an iron evaporator at a grazing incidence of 10° relative to the substrate surface, deposition was limited to only one side of the Cr peaks, resulting in well-defined magnetic wires. The process was carried out in-situ in a SEMPA apparatus so that analysis of the magnetic domains could be carried out. The resulting image [EPG pub# 687] (see figure) shows clear domains aligned either parallel or anti-parallel to the long axis of the lines, and no transverse domains (which are not supported by such narrow wires). This fabrication represents an example of nanoscale patterning of magnetic material, which is an important issue in the development of higher density magnetic recording media.
Fabrication and Domain Imaging of Iron Magnetic Nanowire Arrays
Jabez J. McClelland - NIST
Robert J. Celotta - NIST
Rajeev Gupta
Michael H. Kelley - NIST
David Tulchinsky - Naval Research Laboratory
Online: July 1999
Last Updated: February 2008
Website Comments:egpwebmaster@nist.gov