Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of thin films

Takanashi, Koki; Seki, Takeshi*

Magune, 19(3), p.100 - 106, 2024/06

Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of thin films currently plays an important role in spintronics as well as magnetic recording. Regarding perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, in this article, the fundamentals, the research history, and the recent research trends are reviewed, showing specific examples with perpendicular magnetization such as magnetic multilayers, ordered alloy films, rare earth-transition metal amorphous alloy films, and inhomogeneous or granular films. The physical origins for perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, including interface anisotropy due to structural symmetry breaking, magnetoelastic anisotropy due to strain, bulk-type magnetocrystalline anisotropy, and directional pair ordering of atoms, are discussed in each example.