Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Magnetised vortex'

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is analysed as the weighted residual method. In particular the analysis focuses on the collocation aspect of the method. Using Monte Carlo experiments we demonstrate that SPH is highly sensitive to node disorder, especially in its symmetrised energy and momentum conserving form. This aspect of the method is related to low [Beta] MHD instabilities observed by other authors. A remedy in the form of the Weighted Differences Method is suggested, which addresses this problem to some extent, but at a cost of losing automatic conservation of energy and momentum. ¶ The Weighted Differences Method is used to simulate propagation of Alfven and magnetosonic wave fronts in [Beta] = 0 plasma, and the results are compared with data obtained with the NCSA Zeus3D code with the Method of Characteristics (MOC) module. ¶ SPH is then applied to two interesting astrophysical situations: accretion on to a white dwarf in a compact binary system, which results in a formation of an accretion disk, and gravitational collapse of a magnetised vortex. Both models are 3 dimensional. ¶ The accretion disk which forms in the binary star model is characterised by turbulent flow: the Karman vortex street is observed behind the stream-disk interaction region. The shock that forms at the point of stream-disk interaction is controlled by the means of particle merges, whereas Monaghan-Lattanzio artificial viscosity is used to simulate Smagorinsky closure. ¶ The evolution of the collapsing magnetised vortex ends up in the formation of an expanding ring in the symmetry plane of the system. We observe the presence of spiralling inward motion towards the centre of attraction. That final state compares favourably with the observed qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the circumnuclear disk in the Galactic Centre. That simulation has also been verified with the NCSA Zeus3D run. ¶ In conclusions we contrast the result of our Monte Carlo experiments with the results delivered by our production runs. We also compare SPH and Weighted Differences against the new generation of conservative finite differences methods, such as the Godunov method and the Piecewise Parabolic Method. We conclude that although SPH cannot match the accuracy and performance of those methods, it appears to have some advantage in simulation of rotating flows, which are of special interest to astrophysics.

In der vorliegenden Dissertation wurden magnetisch heterogene, weichmagnetische Schichten hergestellt und in ihren magnetischen Eigenschaften gezielt modifiziert. Zu Beginn wurden in makroskopischen Bereichen Strukturen mit lateral in Streifen modulierter magnetischer Anisotropie im Mikrometermaßstab hergestellt, um den Einfluss der inneren Grenzflächen auf die magnetische Hysterese zu charakterisieren. Dazu wurden über Ionenimplantation in einer funktionalen Deckschicht lokal zusätzliche mechanische Spannungen generiert, ohne die intrinsischen Eigenschaften der magnetischen Schicht zu verändern. Mit der entwickelten Methode können rein über das gezielte Induzieren mechanischer Spannungen hybride magnetische Eigenschaften mit periodisch alternierenden, magnetisch leichten Achsen erzeugt werden. Im mesoskopischen Bereich beeinflussen zusätzlich die äußere Form und die Größe der magnetisch heterogenen Elemente die magnetischen Eigenschaften. In dieser Dissertation wurde für streifenstrukturierte Quadrate ein analytisches Modell entwickelt, um die Wechselwirkungen von Grenzflächen innerhalb der Elemente und der lateralen Elementgrenzen auf das Ummagnetisierungsverhalten zu simulieren. Das modellierte Ummagnetisierungsverhalten wurde mit experimentell gemessenen Daten unterlegt und bestätigt. Im Vergleich zwischen Modell und Experiment zeigte sich, dass die Größe der externen Felder, bei denen die Magnetisierung innerhalb der Elemente schaltet, voneinander abweicht. Dies ist bedingt durch die bevorzugte Nukleation magnetischer Domänen an den lateralen Begrenzungen der quadratischen Elemente. Ein Aspekt, der die Nukleation von Domänen wesentlich beeinflusst, ist die Form der lateralen Begrenzung. Durch gezielte Manipulation des Kantenwinkels wurde das Ummagnetisierungsverhalten weichmagnetischer Kreisscheiben gesteuert. Dabei nukleiert der für Kreisscheiben charakteristische Vortexzustand bevorzugt in Elementen mit abgeschrägten Kanten. Die Gesamtheit der Daten zeigt, dass die magnetischen Eigenschaften heterogener Strukturen nicht nur von den Eigenschaften der Ausgangsmaterialien abhängen, sondern entscheidend von den Größen und Formen der Strukturierungen und der Elemente bestimmt werden.

Heterogeneous ferromagnetic-superconducting systems such as a regular array of ferromagnetic nano dots deposited on the top of a superconducting thin film have attracted many research teams both experimental and theoretical. The interest in these systems does not only stem from being good candidates for technological applications, but also because they represent a new class of physical systems where two competing order parameters can coexist. This work focuses on the theoretica laspects of these systems by studying the static and dynamics of few model systems. In the first part, the static properties of a superconducting thin film interacting with a ferromagnetic texture are considered within the London approximation. In particular, the ferromagnetic textures considered here are a circular dot of submicrometer size with in-plane magnetization, an elliptical dot magnetized in the direction perpendicular to the superconductor, and a ferromagnetic dot magnetized in the direction normal to the superconducting film and containing non magnetic cavities. I also consider the interaction of vortices in the superconductor with a ferromagnetic columnar defect which penetrates the supercondcting film. In each case the vector potential and magnetic field of the ferromagnet in the presence of the superconductor are calculated. Afterward the presence of vortices in the superconductor is assumed and the energy of vortex-texture system is found. The pinning potential and force supplied by the texture are then derived from the energy of interaction between the ferromagnet and superconductor. I show that if the magnetization of the ferromagnet exceeds a critical value then vortices are spontaneously created in the ground state of the system. Such spontaneous creation of vortices is possible mostly in a close vicinity of the superconducting transition temperature Ts. For every case, the threshold value of the magnetization at which vortices start to be spontaneously created in the SC is calculated as a function of the parameters of the texture geometry. The phase diagrams for transitions from vortexless regime to regimes with one or more vortices are determined for all cases. In the second problem, the transport properties of a ferromagnetic superconducting bilayer with alternating magnetization and vortex density are studied within a phenomenological model. I show that pinning forces do not appear for continuous distribution of vortices, so a discrete model for the bilayer system is constructed. Afterward, I calculate the pinning forces acting on vortices and antivortices resulting from highly inhomogeneous distribution of flux lines and prove that this system has strong transport anisotropy. In the absence of random pinning, the system displays a finite resistance for the current in the direction perpendicular to the domains while its resistance vanishes for the parallel current. The transport anisotropy strongly depends on temperature. I study this dependence and show that the ratio of parallel to perpendicular critical current is largest close to the superconducting transition temperature Ts and the vortex disappearance temperature Tv while it has a minimum in between them.

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles have potential applications in targeted drug delivery and as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Magnetite clusters are of particular interest for these applications because they provide higher magnetic flux (under a magnetic field) than individual magnetite nanoparticles, are biocompatible, and their size and compositions can be controlled. This thesis involves the controlled synthesis and characterization of clusters composed of magnetite nanoparticles stabilized with an amphiphilic block copolymer. It outlines a method to design and form well-defined and colloidally stable magnetite clusters. A Multi Inlet Vortex mixer (MIVM) was used because it is a continuous process that yields particles with relatively narrow and controlled size distributions. In the MIVM, four liquid streams collide under turbulent conditions in the mixing chamber where clusters form within milliseconds. The formation of magnetite clusters was studied in the presence of amphiphilic block copolymers containing poly (ethylene oxide) to provide steric stabilization and control of size distributions using flash nanoprecipitation. First, the mixer was tested using β-carotene as a model compound to form nanoparticles stabilized with an amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (F127) at different Reynolds numbers and supersaturation values. Size analysis was done using dynamic light scattering and nanoparticle tracking analysis techniques. The cluster structure was studied using electron microscopy and magnetite compositions were measured using thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, the stability of magnetite clusters was studied over time and the effect of an applied magnetite field on the colloidal stability was investigated.
Master of Science

This thesis is a study of the static and dynamic behavior of the magne-tization in spin-flop bi-layers, which consist of two soft ferromagnetic layerscoupled by dipolar forces through a thin nonmagnetic spacer. The focus ofthe work is three fold: collective spin dynamics in the anti-parallel groundstate; resonant switching in the presence of thermal agitation; and static anddynamic behavior of the system in the vortex-pair state, with a particularemphasis on the interlayer core-core interaction. Two collective spin-flop resonance modes are observed and interpreted asacoustical and optical spin precessions, in which the moments of the two lay-ers oscillate in phase and out of phase, respectively. An analytical macrospinmodel is developed to analyze the experimental results and is found to ac-curately predict the resonance frequencies and their field dependence in thelow-field anti-parallel state and the high-field near saturated state. A micro-magnetic model is developed and successfully explains the static and dynamicbehavior of the system in the entire field range, including the C- and S-typespin-perturbed scissor state of the bi-layer at intermediate fields. The optical spin-flop resonance at 3-4 GHz is used to demonstrate resonantswitching in the system, in the range of the applied field where quasi-staticswitching is forbidden. An off-axis field of relatively small amplitude canexcite large-angle scissor-like oscillations at the optical resonance frequency,which can result in a full 180-degree reversal, with the two moments switchingpast each other into the mirror anti-parallel state. It is found that the switch-ing probability increases with increasing the duration of the microwave fieldpulse, which shows that the resonant switching process is affected by thermalagitation. Micromagnetic modeling incorporating the effect of temperature isperformed and is in good agreement with the experimental results. Vortex pair states in spin-flop bi-layers are produced using high amplitudefield pulses near the optical spin resonance in the system. The stable vortex-pair states, 16 in total, of which 4 sub-classes are non-degenerate in energy, areidentified and investigated using static and dynamic applied fields. For AP-chirality vortex-pair states, the system can be studied while the two vortexcores are coupled and decoupled in a single field sweep. It is found thatthe dynamics of the AP-chirality vortex pairs is critically determined by thepolarizations of the two vortex cores and the resulting attractive or repulsivecore-core interaction. The measured spin resonance modes in the system areinterpreted as gyrational, rotational, and vibrational resonances with the helpof the analytical and micromagnetic models developed herein. A significant effort during this project was made to build two instrumentsfor surface and transport characterization of magnetic nanostructures: a high-current Scanning Tunneling Microscope for studying transport in magneticpoint contacts, and a Current In Plane Tunneling instrument for characteriz-ing unpatterned magnetic tunnel junctions. The design and implementationof the instruments as well as the test data are presented.
QC 20101209

In this thesis, two selected topics in magnetism are studied using theoretical modelling and computational methods. The first of these is the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE) of transition metal based magnets. In particular, ways of finding 3d transition metal based materials with large MAE are considered. This is motivated by the need for new permanent magnet materials, not containing rare-earth elements, but is also of interest for other technological applications, where the MAE is a key quantity. The mechanisms of the MAE in the relevant materials are reviewed and approaches to increasing this quantity are discussed. Computational methods, largely based on density functional theory (DFT), are applied to guide the search for relevant materials. The computational work suggests that the MAE of Fe1-xCox alloys can be significantly enhanced by introducing a tetragonality with interstitial B or C impurities. This is also experimentally corroborated. Alloying is considered as a method of tuning the electronic structure around the Fermi energy and thus also the MAE, for example in the tetragonal compound (Fe1-xCox)2B. Additionally, it is shown that small amounts (2.5-5 at.%) of various 5d dopants on the Fe/Co-site can enhance the MAE of this material with as much as 70%. The magnetic properties of several technologically interesting, chemically ordered, L10 structured binary compounds, tetragonal Fe5Si1-xPxB2 and Hexagonal Laves phase Fe2Ta1-xWx are also investigated. The second topic studied is that of magnetic effects on the elastic scattering of fast electrons, in the context of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A multislice solution is implemented for a paraxial version of the Pauli equation. Simulations require the magnetic fields in the sample as input. A realistic description of magnetism in a solid, for this purpose, is derived in a scheme starting from a DFT calculation of the spin density or density matrix. Calculations are performed for electron vortex beams passing through magnetic solids and a magnetic signal, defined as a difference in intensity for opposite orbital angular momentum beams, integrated over a disk in the diffraction plane, is observed. For nanometer sized electron vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum of a few tens of ħ, a relative magnetic signal of order 10-3 is found. This is considered realistic to be observed in experiments. In addition to electron vortex beams, spin polarised and phase aberrated electron beams are considered and also for these a magnetic signal, albeit weaker than that of the vortex beams, can be obtained.

Felaktigt ISBN i den tryckta versionen: 9789155497149

Les nano-oscillateurs spintroniques présentent des propriétés remarquables en termes de détection radiofréquence. Leurs tailles nanométriques, leur fonctionnement à température ambiante et leurs compatibilité CMOS en font des candidats sérieux pour apporter la fonction d’analyse spectrale instantanée dans des systèmes embarqués. Les travaux de cette thèse portent sur les propriétés de détection des STNOs à base de vortex magnétiques. Un des effets conférant aux STNOs la possibilité de détecter un signal rf est l’effet diode de spin. Une source rf permet de créer le signal à détecter. Lorsque la fréquence du courant rf injecté dans le STNO correspond à sa fréquence de résonance, une tension de rectification est créée à ses bornes. La mesure de cette tension par un simple voltmètre permet alors de déterminer la présence d’un courant rf. L’étude de l’évolution de la fréquence de résonance en fonction du rayon du STNO, du courant dc et du champ magnétique a mis en avant la possibilité de choisir la fréquence de résonance et de l’accorder avec ces paramètres. Dans une perspective applicative, cette propriété est essentielle pour allouer un STNO à une fréquence spécifique à détecter. De plus, la taille nanométrique des STNOs permettent d’envisager un système composé d’un réseau de milliers, voire de millions de STNOs contenues sur une puce fonctionnant à température ambiante. Cependant plusieurs problématiques se posent. La sensibilité du STNOs à un signal rf extérieur doit permettre de déterminer l’état d’occupation d’un canal de fréquence par une simple mesure de la tension ou par un comparateur de tension. Cela nécessite une variation de tension de l’ordre de la dizaine de mV. L’effet diode de spin ne permettant pas d’atteindre de telle variation, un autre effet, mesuré pour la première fois à l’Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, appelé expulsion de vortex magnétique, est étudié. Ce phénomène a lieu quand le cœur de vortex franchit les bords du STNO lors de sa dynamique induite par transfert de spin. Grâce à cet effet, l’amplitude de la variation de tension peut atteindre jusqu’à 25 mV dans les STNOs caractérisés dans le cadre de nos travaux. De plus, ce phénomène est également accordable en fréquence. Dans une perspective applicative, un réseau de STNO doit être crée afin d’allouer un STNO à une gamme de fréquence spécifique et ainsi couvrir une large bande de fréquence. La répartition du courant rf vers tous les STNOs est donc une problématique à laquelle nous avons apporté une solution. L’excitation du cœur de vortex par un champ rf nous permet en effet d’exciter un grand nombre de STNO grâce à une ligne inductive lithographiée au-dessus des STNOs. La possibilité d’expulser le cœur de vortex, dans ces conditions, a été démontré. Nous avons alors étudié la dynamique du cœur de vortex induite par un champ rf lors de l’expulsion. Ces études temporelles et fréquentielles nous ont non seulement apporté des informations sur le temps de détection d’un signal rf par le STNO mais aussi sur son aimantation dans le régime d’expulsion. De plus, l’accord en fréquence du STNO est possible même lors de l’excitation du cœur de vortex par un champ rf. Enfin, ces études nous ont permis de mettre en place, étape après étape une preuve de concept démontrant la faisabilité de la détection rf avec des nano-oscillateurs spintronique. Les différentes études du phénomène d’expulsion du cœur de vortex alliées à un travail technique de conception et de fabrication considérable a permis de converger vers une solution qui constitue un point de départ vers le développement d’un détecteur d’occupation de spectre spintronique large bande, tenant sur une puce et fonctionnant à température ambiante
Spintronic nano-oscillators have remarkable properties in terms of radio frequency detection. Their nanoscale sizes, room temperature operation, and CMOS compatibility make them serious candidates for providing instantaneous spectral analysis in embedded systems. This thesis concerns the detection properties of magnetic vortex-based STNOs. One of the effects conferring on STNOs the possibility of detecting a rf signal is the spin diode effect. An rf source is used to create the signal to be detected. When the rf current frequency injected into the STNO corresponds to its resonant frequency, a rectification voltage is created at its terminals. The measurement of this voltage by a simple voltmeter makes possible to determine the rf current presence. The evolution study of the resonance frequency as a function of the STNO radius, the dc current and the magnetic field has highlighted the possibility of choosing the resonant frequency and tuning it with these parameters. From an application point of view, this property is essential for allocating an STNO to a specific frequency to be detected. Furthermore, the STNO nanometric allows us to envisage a network of thousands, even millions of STNOs contained on a chip operating at ambient temperature. However, several problems arise. The STNO sensitivity to an external rf signal must allow to determine the occupancy state of a frequency channel by a simple measurement of the voltage or with a voltage comparator. This requires a voltage variation of ten mV order. The spin diode effect doesn’t allow to achieve such variation. Another effect, measured for the first time at the Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, called magnetic vortex expulsion, is studied. This phenomenon occurs when the vortex core crosses the STNO edges during its spin transfer induced dynamics. Thanks to this effect, the voltage amplitude variation can reach up to 25 mV in the STNOs characterized during this thesis. Moreover, this phenomenon can be tuned. From an application perspective, a network of STNOs must be created in order to allocate an STNO to a specific frequency range and thus cover a broad frequency band.The rf current distribution to all STNOs is therefore a problem to which we have brought a solution. The excitation of the vortex core by a rf field allows us to excite a large number of STNO thanks to an inductive line lithographed above the STNOs. The possibility of expelling the vortex core under these conditions has been demonstrated. We then studied the vortex core dynamics induced by an rf field during the expulsion. A time and frequency domain studies not only provided us detection time information of an rf signal by the STNO but also on its magnetization in the expulsion regime. Moreover, the STNO frequency tuning is possible even when the vortex core is excited by an rf field. Finally, these studies enabled us to implement step by step a proof of concept demonstrating the rf detection feasibility with spintronic nano-oscillators. The various studies of vortex core expulsion combined with a considerable technical work of design and manufacture finally allowed us to converge towards a solution that constitutes a starting point towards the development of a broadband spintronic spectrum occupancy detector, contained on a chip and operating at room temperature

In dieser Arbeit werden magnetische Vortex-Dreifachlagen-Systeme untersucht. Mittels Magnetfeld, Strom und Röntgenzirkulardichroismus kann erstmals die magnetische Konfiguration der Vortexlagen mit dem simultan gemessenen Magnetowiderstand verglichen werden. Die senkrecht mit Strom durchflossenen Kobalt-Kupfer-Permalloy Scheiben werden in einem Mehrschrittprozess mittels Elektronenstrahllithographie auf einer Membran hergestellt, um mit Rastertransmissions-Röntgenmikroskopie untersuchbar zu sein. Die Auswertung der STXM-Bilder zeigt das gleiche Verhalten wie die Widerstandsmessungen und erlaubt eine eindeutige Zuordnung. Um auch die kleinsten scheibenförmigen Dreifachlagensysteme mittels ferromagnetischer Resonanz zu messen, wurde die Mikroresonator FMR optimiert. Damit können bereits etwa 2.3*10^7 Kobaltatome gemessen werden, wobei die Empfindlichkeit bis zu 4*10^6 Atomen ausreichend sein sollte. Durch 6-fache Mittelung lässt sich ein Kobaltwürfel mit einer Kantenlänge von 12,5nm detektieren. Dabei sind nicht nur die uniforme Mode, sondern auch lokal angeregte Moden sichtbar. Mittels mikromagnetischer Simulationen lassen sich den Resonanzen Modenbilder zuordnen. Die scheibenförmige Dreifachlage wird mit den FMR-Messungen sowohl mit verringertem Durchmesser, als auch mit reduzierter Zwischenschicht untersucht.

Desde el descubrimiento de los Superconductores de Alta Temperatura (SCAT), se ha realizado un gran esfuerzo con tal de optimizar las propiedades eléctricas de estos materiales. A diferencia de los Superconductores convencionales de Baja Temperatura (SCBT), algunos de los SCAT son capaces de alcanzar el estado superconductor a la temperatura de ebullición del nitrógeno (77K) haciéndolos mucho más atractivos en cuanto a aplicaciones tecnológicas dados los reducidos costes de operación. Una de las principales aplicaciones de los SCAT es el transporte eléctrico. La ausencia de resistencia eléctrica de estos materiales cuando están por debajo de su temperatura crítica, Tc, hacen que puedan transportar hasta 10 veces más de potencia que los cables convencionales, o proporcionar una misma potencia con niveles muy inferiores de voltaje. Por otro lado, los SCAT han sido profundamente estudiados en el ámbito de la electrónica. En particular, nanohilos de SCAT pueden ser escalados a tamaños menores debido a sus pequeñas longitudes intrínsecas. Además, sus rápidos coeficientes de relajación permiten altos niveles de adquisición en experimentos de fotodetección cuando éstos son comparados con SCBT. No obstante, una de las características más importantes en el estudio de los SCAT es la presencia de líneas de flujo magnético cuantificadas, denominadas vórtices, en su diagrama de fase. Su mayor diferencia con respecto a los SCBT surge cuando se tienen en cuenta las altas excitaciones térmicas. Como consecuencia, una gran variedad de defectos de anclaje son necesarios con la finalidad de evitar (o controlar) la dinámica de los vórtices y por lo tanto, la disipación eléctrica resultante. El control del anclaje y la dinámica de los vórtices es la finalidad de esta tesis donde los principales resultados están presentados en los capítulos 3, 4 y 5. Previamente, en el capítulo 1 presentamos las principales propiedades superconductoras y en particular, las referidas al comportamiento de los vórtices en muestras de YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO -superconductor con el más amplio rango de operación-) crecidas por el método de deposición de soluciones químicas (DSQ). En el capítulo 2 exponemos las técnicas experimentales utilizadas así como los procedimientos de medida. En el capítulo 3, un gran análisis sobre el anclaje de vórtices es presentado. Un fenómeno sin precedentes en el anclaje de vórtices es demostrado el cual permite mejorar la densidad de corriente crítica y su anisotropía en presencia de fases secundarias no-superconductoras dentro de la matriz de YBCO. Además, un análisis de la dinámica de los vórtices con respecto a los defectos naturales de muestras de YBCO-DSQ es expuesto. En los capítulos 4 y 5 nos focalizamos en el control de la dinámica de los vórtices en capas finas de YBCO. En el capítulo 4 demostramos un sentido preferencial para el movimiento de los vórtices cuando nanoestructuras asimétricas son diseñadas en la capa de YBCO. Como consecuencia, una rectificación AC-DC es obtenida. En el capítulo 5, los estudios están centrados en la interacción entre materiales superconductores y ferromagnéticos. Se demuestra como introduciendo nanocilindros ferromagnéticos dentro de la matriz del YBCO, un enorme control sobre la densidad de corriente crítica es posible en función del estado magnético de los nanocilindros. Las conclusiones generales están expuestas y resumidas en el último capítulo. Finalmente, el procedimiento analítico utilizado en una simulación teórica presentada en el capítulo 5 es explicado en el apéndice.
Since the discovery of High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS) a huge effort has been devoted in order to optimize the electric power properties of these materials. As a difference from conventional Low-Temperature Superconductors (LTS), some HTS are able to achieve the superconducting state at the boiling point of nitrogen (77K), making these materials much more attractive for technological applications due to their reduced operating costs. One of the main applications of HTS is the electrical transport. Due to the zero electrical resistance of these materials when they are below the critical temperature, Tc, they can transmit up to 10 times more power than conventional cables or can carry equivalent power at much lower voltages. On the other hand, HTS materials have been deeply studied in the field of electronics. In particular, HTS nanowires can be functionally scaled to smaller sizes due to their extremely short intrinsic lengths. Furthermore, their characteristic fast relaxation rates offer higher counting rates in photodetection experiments when compared to LTS. However, one of the most important issues to take into account in the study of HTS, is the presence of quantified magnetic flux lines, referred as vortex, into their phase diagram. The main difference from LTS concerning the vortex behavior arises from the high thermal excitations. Consequently a great variety of different pinning centers are needed in order to avoid (or control) the vortex dynamics and therefore, the resulting electrical dissipation. Controlling vortex pinning and dynamics is the aim of this thesis where the main results are presented in chapters 3, 4 and 5. Previously, in chapter 1 we present the main superconducting properties, and in particular, the regarding to vortex behavior in YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO -HTS with the widest operating range-) samples grown following the Chemical Solution Deposition (CSD) technique. In chapter 2 we show the experimental techniques used in our analysis and the measurement procedure. In chapter 3, a huge analysis of vortex pinning is presented. An unprecedented phenomenon for vortex pinning is demonstrated which allows improving the critical current density and its anisotropy in the presence of non-superconducting secondary phases into the YBCO matrix. Furthermore, an analysis of the vortex dynamics with YBCO-CSD natural defects is performed. In chapters 4 and 5 we have focused in controlling vortex dynamics in YBCO thin films. In chapter 4 a preferential sense for the vortex movement is demonstrated when asymmetric nanostructures are patterned in the YBCO layer. Consequently, a controlled AC-DC rectification is obtained. In chapter 5, the studies are centered in the interaction between superconducting and ferromagnetic materials. It is demonstrated that by inserting ferromagnetic nanorods into the YBCO matrix, a huge control of the critical current density is possible as a function of the magnetic state of the nanorod. General conclusions of the thesis are presented and summarized in the last chapter. Finally, the analytical procedure used in a theoretical simulation presented in chapter 5 is exposed in the appendix.

Dans cette thèse nous étudions théoriquement et numériquement les solitons magnétiques et leurs transitions topologiques. Dans une première partie, nous trouvons une solution en 3 dimensions appelée Point de Bloch qui vient de la minimisation de l'énergie d'échange, de l'énergie de Landau et de l'énergie dipolaire. Les oscillations autour du point de Bloch sont trouvées et quantifiées pour étudier le rôle des fluctuations quantiques dans sa stabilité.Dans une deuxième partie, nous regardons l'évolution d'un système ferromagnétique avec des textures de topologie non-triviale, couplé à des électrons itinérants qui interagissent avec la texture au moyen de leurs spins. Ce système physique est modelé avec l'équation de Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert couplée à l'équation de Schrödinger des électrons quantiques. Des transitions topologiques sont observées et mises dans un cadre général. De la grande quantité des transitions topologiques observées, nous distinguons les différents rôles que jouent les électrons selon le régime et l'ensemble de paramètres. Les ordres de grandeur temporels et spatiales des transitions topologiques montrent l'importance des effets quantiques ainsi que des effets de discrétisation du problème
In this thesis we study the magnetic solitons and its topological transitions, both theoretically and numerically. In the first part, we find a particular configuration of what is denominated the Bloch Point, a three-dimensional solution of the Free Energy minimization with exchange, Landau and dipolar terms. Oscillations around the Bloch point are found and quantized in order to understand the role of quantum fluctuations over its stability.In the second part, we look at the evolution of a system coupling ferromagnetic textures with nontrivial topology, with itinerant electrons. The interaction between the magnetic texture and the electrons is understood by means of spin-torque phenomena. This physical system is modeled with the equation Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation coupled with Schrödinger equation for quantum electrons. Topological transitions are observed and understood in a general framework that unifies older works done in a more classical context. Among the large amount of topological transitions observed, we can distinguish the different roles played by electrons depending on parameters. The orders of magnitude of time and space in the topological transition events show the importance of quantum effects as well as the fundamental role of discretization

Cette thèse porte sur la réalisation et l'étude de systèmes hybrides d'interface entre une couche magnétique et un supraconducteur. Tout d'abord, nous avons réalisé et étudié des structures magnétiques mésoscopiques dont les propriétés magnétiques ont été modulées par l'effet de la dimensionnalité du système (épaisseur et taille latérale). Deux types des structures ont été considérés. La première est constituée par des couches minces de pérovskite LaSrMnO. Par une étude complexe nous avons réussi à démontrer la corrélation directe entre l'incorporation de l'oxygène dans le LaSrMnO et l'évolution de ses propriétés structurales, magnétiques et électriques. Une deuxième classe de matériaux magnétiques étudiés est constituée des métaux de transition (Co) et des alliages (Ni80Fe20). Les couches ont étés structurées par lithographie optique et gravure ionique sous forme d'objets de taille micronique. Par la suite, ces structures ferromagnétiques ont été interfacées avec des films minces constitués d'un supraconducteur à haute température : YBaCuO. L'objectif ultime de cette étude a été le contrôle de la dynamique des vortex dans le supraconducteur par deux types de mécanismes: intrinsèque ou les centres de pinning sont les défauts structuraux dans le film supraconducteur et un mécanisme extrinsèque lié à l'influence des modulations du champ magnétique généré par la structure magnétique mésoscopique adjacente
The present thesis deals with the fabrication and study of hybrid, ferromagnetic/superconducting, interface systems. Magnetic mezoscopic systems, whose magnetic properties were modulated by the dimensionality (thickness and lateral size) of the systems was studied. Two types of structures were considered. The first consisted of perovskite-like epitaxial LaSrMnO thin films. We have demonstrated the direct correlation between oxygen incorporation in the LaSrMnO lattice and the evolution of its structural, magnetic and electric properties. A second class of magnetic materials that has been studied consisted of transition metals (Co) and alloys (Ni80Fe20). We have defined micronic objects from the as-deposited films, by means of optical lithography and ion beam etching. These structures were then integrated to form an interface with thin epitaxial high Tc superconducting films: YBaCuO. The ultimate goal of the above studies was the control of vortex dynamics within the superconducting layer by two mechanisms: the first, intrinsic, in which flux pinning is achieved by structural defects within the superconducting film, and a second one, extrinsic, correlated with influence of the magnetic field modulations created by the adjacent mezoscopic magnetic structure

The work presented in this thesis was broadly focussed on the investigation of the magnetic behaviour of different superconducting materials in the form of bulk (singe crystals and pellets) and thin films (nanomagnetic devices like superconducting spin valves etc). Neutrons and muons were extensively used to probe the structural and magnetic behaviour of these systems at the nanoscale along with bulk characterisation techniques like high-sensitive magnetic property measurements, scanning probe microscopy and magneto-transport measurements etc. The nanoscale interplay of Superconductivity and Ferromagnetism was studied in the thin film structures using a combination of Polarised Neutron Reflectivity (PNR) and Low Energy Muon Spin Rotation (LE-µSR) techniques while bulk Muon Spin Rotation (µSR) technique was used for microscopic magnetic investigation in the bulk materials. In the Fe/Pb heterostructure, evidence of the Proximity Effect was observed in the form of an enhancement of the superconducting penetration depth (λs) with an increase in the ferromagnetic layer thickness (dF) in both the bilayered and the trilayered structures. The existence of an Inverted Magnetic Region was also detected at the Ferromagnet-Superconductor (F/S) interface in the normal state possibly originating from the induced spin polarisation within the Pb layer in the presence of the neighbouring Fe layer(s). The spatial size (height and width) of the Inverted Magnetic Region did not change much while cooling the sample below the superconducting transition temperature(Tc)and it also stayed unaffected by an increase in the Fe layer thickness and by a change of the applied magnetic field. In the superconducting spin valve structure containing Permalloy (Py) as ferromagnetic layer and Nb as the superconducting layer, LE-µSR measurements revealed the evidence of the decay of magnetic flux density (as a function of thickness) within the Nb layer symmetrically from the Py/Nb interfaces towards the centre of the Nb layer in the normal state. The thickness dependent magnetisation decay occurred over two characteristic length scales in the normal state that stayed of similar values in the superconducting state also. In the superconducting state, an additional contribution towards the magnetisation was found in the vicinity of the Py/Nb interfaces possibly originating from the spin polarisation of the singlet Cooper pairs in these areas. The nanoscale magnetic investigation on a highly engineered F/S/F structure (where each of the F blocks made of multiple Co/Pd layers with magnetic moments aligned perpendicular to the plane of these layers and neighbouring magnetic blocks separated by Ru layers giving rise to antiferromagnetic alignment) using LE-µSR showed an antisymmetric thickness dependent magnetic flux density profile with two characteristic length scales. In the superconducting state, the magnetic flux density profile got modified within the superconducting Nb₆₇Ti₃₃ layer near the F/S interfaces in a way similar to that of observed in the case of Py/Nb system, most likely because of the spin polarisation of the superconducting electron pairs. The vortex magnetic phase diagram of Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O10-δ was studied using the Muon Spin Rotation (µSR) technique to explore the effects of vortex lattice melting and rearrangements for vortex transitions and crossover as a function of magnetic field and temperatures. At low magnetic fields, the flux vortices undergo a first order melting transition from a vortex lattice to a vortex liquid state with increasing temperature while another transition also occurred with increasing field at fixed temperature to a vortex glass phase at the lowest temperatures. Evidence of a frozen liquid phase was found in the intermediate field region at low temperature in the form of a lagoon in the superconducting vortex state which is in agreement with earlier observations made in BiSCCO-2212. The magnetic behaviour of the unconventional superconductor Sr₂RuO₄ was investigated using µSR to find the evidence of normal state magnetism and the nature of the vortex state. In the normal state, a weak hysteretic magnetic signal was detected over a wide temperature and field range believed to be supporting the evidence of a chiral order parameter. The nature of the vortex lattice structure was obtained in different parts of the magnetic phase diagram and the evidence of magnetic field driven transition in the lattice structure was detected from a Triangular→Square structure while the vortex lattice stayed Triangular over the entire temperature region below Tc at low fields with a disappearance of pinning at higher temperatures.

The ability of a ferromagnet to maintain its magnetic state in the absence of an external magnetic field has made ferromagnetic materials an important subject of study in physics since the end of the 19th century. Moreover, ferromagnetic materials are the cornerstone for data storage systems such as magnetic tapes, magnetic disk drives and magnetic random access memory. The discovery of the Giant Magneto Resistance (GMR) in 1988 suggested that, since the magnetic state of the electrical conductor has an important effect upon the current flow, there may also be an inverse influence of the current upon the magnetization. In this effect, predicted in 1989 [1] by Slonczewski and called Spin Transfer Torque, angular momentum transferred by a spin polarized current can exert a torque on the magnetization of a ferromagnetic material, changing the local magnetization and stimulating the precession of the magnetic moments, generating microwave signals. This provides a new method of manipulating magnetization without applying an external field. Large polarized currents lead to spin transfer effects which are the driving force for the magnetic dynamics of devices known as Spin Transfer Oscillators (STO). In this new kind of nano-device the emission of microwaves is stimulated by a DC electrical current and measured as a change in the output voltage due the GMR effect. The specific characteristics of these devices such as working frequency and DC current ranges, microwave emission linewidth, and maximum emission power among others, are given by the design and size of the device,and the nature of the magnetic oscillations producing the emission. Among the multiple types of STO that now exist , I have focused my research upon three of them: Spin Transfer Vortex Oscillators (STVO), Single Layer Spin Transfer Oscillators (SL-STO) and Orthogonal Pseudo Spin Valves. Within STVOs and SL-STOs we can nucleate what is called a magnetic vortex. A magnetic vortex is a curling of the in-plane of a magnetic layer with its centre pointing out of the magnetization plane. The gyration of this vortex due to STT produces a microwave emission < 1GHz with a greater emission power than that produced by the precession of magnetic moments in STOs. The phase-locked synchronisation of multiple vortices is expected to exhibit enhanced microwaved power and phase stability compared to a single vortex device, providing a solution to the drawbacks of the STO in the low frequency regime. On the other hand, Orthogonal Pseudo Spin Valves promote the nucleation of magnetic dissipative solitons, also called magnetic droplets. This type of magnetic structure has an opposite out of plane magnetization to the layer that contains it. Compared to the microwave emission of magnetic vortices , magnetic droplets have a higher frequency range and emission power. However, their nucleation is subject to large external fields being applied to the sample. In this thesis, I electrically characterized these devices and applied magnetic imaging techniques in order to go further in the understanding of the spatial features and dynamic behaviour of these magnetic structures. It is not possible to acquire this knowledge by only using electrical characterization. Understanding the magnetization dynamics in these devices is crucial for the design of STO based devices while imaging studies are required to prove the existence of these magnetic structures, as in case of the magnetic droplet. In chapter 2 I will introduce the background concepts of magnetism that are relevant to this thesis. I will go from the basics principles of ferromagnetism, its quantum mechanical treatment, and the theory that explain the dynamics of the magnetisation. I will also present the state of the art in experimental research in the field of spin transfer oscillators. My aim is to give the basic background needed to understand the results presented in this thesis. In chapter 3 I will introduce the two main experimental techniques used for imaging the magnetisation of the devices presented: Holography with Extended Reference by Autocorrelation Linear Differential Operator (HERALDO) and Time Resolved Scanning Kerr Microscopy (TRSKM). I will revise the theoretical background concepts and the development of the techniques in order to demostrate the uniqueness of each technique and how they were used in this thesis. It is interesting to note that while MOKE is a well-known and widely-used technique, far fewer laboratories in the world area able to perform time resolved measurements using MOKE, with the University of Exeter being one of them. Furthermore, HERALDO is a novel technique that is used for the first time to image magnetic structures within multilayer systems in this thesis, which is a milestone in the development of the techinque. In chapter 4 I present an investigation of the magnetization dynamics of a SL-STO. Electrical transport measurements provided an initial characterization of the device. We then used HERALDO for the first time to investigate the magnetization dynamics in an intermediate layer of a multilayer stack. We present time averaged measurements of the magnetisation of a magnetic vortex formed underneath a nano contact (NC) positioned on top of the multilayer, using a combination of x-ray holography and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. In chapter 5 I present the first direct measurement at the time of a magnetic dissipative droplet, using holography with extended reference autocorrelation by linear differential operator (HERALDO). I studied the out of plane magnetisation of the free layer under a NC within an orthogonal pseudo spin salve. In chapter 6 I present and study STVO devices with pairs of NCs of 100 nm diameter and centre-to-centre separation D = 200 to 1100 nm, by a combination of electrical measurements and time-resolved scanning Kerr microscopy (TRSKM). It will be shown that the dynamic behaviour of vortices and anti vortices changes when the distances between the NCs within the devices is changed.

Les nano-Oscillateurs à transfert de spin (STNOs) sont des dispositifs capables d'émettre une onde hyperfréquence lorsqu'ils sont pompés par un courant polarisé grâce au couple de transfert de spin. Bien qu'ils offrent de nombreux avantages (agilité spectrale, intégrabilité, etc.) pour les applications, leur puissance d'émission et leur pureté spectrale sont en général faibles. Une stratégie pour améliorer ces propriétés est de synchroniser plusieurs oscillateurs entre eux. Une première étape est de comprendre la synchronisation d'un STNO unique à une source externe. Pour cela, nous avons étudié une vanne de spin Cu60|NiFe15|Cu10|NiFe4| Au25 (épaisseurs en nm) de section circulaire de 200 nm. Dans l'état saturé perpendiculaire (champ appliqué > 0.8 T), nous avons déterminé la nature du mode qui auto-Oscille et son couplage à une source externe grâce à un microscope de force par résonance magnétique (MRFM). Seul un champ micro-Onde uniforme permet de synchroniser le mode oscillant de la couche fine car il possède la bonne symétrie spatiale, au contraire du courant micro-Onde traversant l'échantillon. Ce même échantillon a ensuite été étudié sous faible champ perpendiculaire, les deux couches magnétiques étant alors dans l'état vortex. Dans ce cas, il est possible d'exciter un mode de grande cohérence (F/ ∆F >15000) avec une largeur de raie inférieure à 100 kHz. En analysant le contenu harmonique du spectre, nous avons déterminé que le couplage non-Linéaire amplitude-Phase du mode excité est quasi nul, ce qui explique la grande pureté spectrale observée, et qu'en parallèle, la fréquence d'oscillation reste ajustable sur une grande gamme grâce au champ d'Oersted créé par le courant injecté. De plus, la synchronisation de ce mode à une source de champ micro-Onde est très robuste, la largeur de raie mesurée diminuant de plus de cinq ordres de grandeur par rapport au régime autonome. Nous concluons de cette étude que le couplage magnéto-Dipolaire entre STNOs à base de vortex est très prometteur pour obtenir une synchronisation mutuelle, le champ dipolaire rayonné par un STNO sur ses voisins jouant alors le rôle de la source micro-Onde. Nous sommes donc passés à l'étape suivante, à savoir la mesure expérimentale de deux STNOs similaires séparés latéralement de 100 nm. En jouant sur les différentes configurations de polarités des vortex, nous avons réussi à observer la synchronisation mutuelle de ces deux oscillateurs
Spin transfer nano-Oscillators (STNOs) are nanoscale devices capable of generating high frequency microwave signals through spin momentum transfer. Although they offer decisive advantages compared to existing technology (spectral agility, integrability, etc.), their emitted power and spectral purity are quite poor. In view of their applications, a promising strategy to improve the coherence and increase the emitted microwave power of these devices is to mutually synchronize several of them. A first step is to understand the synchronization of a single STNO to an external source. For this, we have studied a circular nanopillar of diameter 200~nm patterned from a Cu60|Py15|Cu10|Py4|Au25 stack, where thicknesses are in nm. In the saturated state (bias magnetic field > 0.8 T), we have identified the auto-Oscillating mode and its coupling to an external source by using a magnetic resonance force microscope (MRFM). Only the uniform microwave field applied perpendicularly to the bias field is efficient to synchronize the STNO because it shares the spatial symmetry of the auto-Oscillation mode, in contrast to the microwave current passing through the device. The same sample was then studied under low perpendicular magnetic field, with the two magnetic layers in the vortex state. In this case, it is possible to excite a highly coherent mode (F/∆F>15000) with a linewidth below 100 kHz. By analyzing the harmonic content of the spectrum, we have determined that the non-Linear amplitude-Phase coupling of the excited mode is almost vanishing, which explains the high spectral purity observed. Moreover, the oscillation frequency can still be widely tuned thanks to the Oersted field created by the dc current. We have also shown that the synchronization of this mode to a microwave field source is very robust, the generation linewidth decreasing by more than five orders of magnitude compared to the autonomous regime. From these findings we conclude that the magneto-Dipolar interaction is promising to achieve mutual coupling of vortex based STNOs, the dipolar field from a neighboring oscillator playing the role of the microwave source. We have thus experimentally measured a system composed of two STNOs laterally separated by 100 nm. By varying the different configurations of vortex polarities, we have observed the mutual synchronization of these two oscillators

Magnetické materiály a z nich vyrobené nanostruktury jsou v průběhu posledních let studovány pro jejich aplikace v např. záznamových médiích a logických obvodech. Tato práce navazuje na náš předchozí výzkum tohoto oboru s hlavním zaměřením na statické a dynamické vlastnosti nanostrukturovaných magnetických materiálů, jako například NiFe, CoFeB a YIG. Práce začíná teoretickým úvodem s popisem mikromagnetických systémů, dynamiky magnetických vortexů, feromagnetické rezonance (FMR) a spinových vln včetně jejich disperzních vlastností. Následuje popis použitých experimentálních metod a první experimentální část zabývající se nukleačním procesem magnetického vortexu, jinými slovy procesem transformace ze saturovaného stavu do spinové konfigurace magnetického vortexu v průběhu snižování magnetického pole. Jsou použity mikroskopické metody zobrazující magnetickou strukturu materiálu, jmenovitě Lorentzova transmisní elektronová mikroskopie a rentgenová transmisní mikroskopie. Výsledky jsou poté korelovány s měřením elektrické odezvy pomocí jevu anizotropní magnetorezistence. Výhodou elektrických měření je, že plně elektrická detekce dovoluje použití tohoto systému v uzavřených systémech integrovaných obvodů. Výsledky oblasti nukleací magnetických vortexů ukazují, že při tomto procesu prochází magnetizace v nano- a mikrometrových magnetických discích několika fázemi s růsnými typy spinových konfigurací nazvaných nukleační stavy. Dále je představeno měření magnetických materiálů pomocí vektorového síťového analyzátoru (VNA), což je aplikováno na měření resonance magnetických vortexů (určení gyrotropické frekvence a měření vysokofrekvenčních módů), feromagnetické rezonance tenkých vrstev (získání základních magnetických materiálových parametrů) a spektroskopii spinových vln. Právě spektroskopie spinových vlna je rozvinuta za účelem měření disperzních relací tenkých magnetických vrstev, což je základní charakteristika, jejíž znalost je důležitá v návrhu aplikací. Nakonec je představeno anténní zařízení, díky kterému lze oddělit magnetické buzení od vzorku samotného bez nutnosti absolvovat proces elektronové litorafie, což je zapotřebí v klasickém přístupu antény na vzorku a kontaktování vysokofrekvenční sondou. Toto zařízení se skládá ze skleněného kantilívru, na kterém je vyrobena budící anténa, konektoru a spojovacího prvku v podobě plošného spoje. Celé zařízení je díky umístění na x-y-z stolek s náklonem pozicovatelné a lze tedy měřit v jakémkoliv místě vzorku. Umístění antény na sklo umožňuje navigaci pomocí mikroskopu a optické měření, např. metodou Brillouinova světelného rozptylu (BLS) nebo Kerrova jevu.

Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is analysed as the weighted residual method. In particular the analysis focuses on the collocation aspect of the method. Using Monte Carlo experiments we demonstrate that SPH is highly sensitive to node disorder, especially in its symmetrised energy and momentum conserving form. This aspect of the method is related to low [Beta] MHD instabilities observed by other authors. A remedy in the form of the Weighted Differences Method is suggested, which addresses this problem to some extent, but at a cost of losing automatic conservation of energy and momentum. ¶ The Weighted Differences Method is used to simulate propagation of Alfven and magnetosonic wave fronts in [Beta] = 0 plasma, and the results are compared with data obtained with the NCSA Zeus3D code with the Method of Characteristics (MOC) module. ¶ SPH is then applied to two interesting astrophysical situations: accretion on to a white dwarf in a compact binary system, which results in a formation of an accretion disk, and gravitational collapse of a magnetised vortex. Both models are 3 dimensional. ¶ ...

In dieser Arbeit werden magnetische Vortex-Dreifachlagen-Systeme untersucht. Mittels Magnetfeld, Strom und Röntgenzirkulardichroismus kann erstmals die magnetische Konfiguration der Vortexlagen mit dem simultan gemessenen Magnetowiderstand verglichen werden. Die senkrecht mit Strom durchflossenen Kobalt-Kupfer-Permalloy Scheiben werden in einem Mehrschrittprozess mittels Elektronenstrahllithographie auf einer Membran hergestellt, um mit Rastertransmissions-Röntgenmikroskopie untersuchbar zu sein. Die Auswertung der STXM-Bilder zeigt das gleiche Verhalten wie die Widerstandsmessungen und erlaubt eine eindeutige Zuordnung. Um auch die kleinsten scheibenförmigen Dreifachlagensysteme mittels ferromagnetischer Resonanz zu messen, wurde die Mikroresonator FMR optimiert. Damit können bereits etwa 2.3*10^7 Kobaltatome gemessen werden, wobei die Empfindlichkeit bis zu 4*10^6 Atomen ausreichend sein sollte. Durch 6-fache Mittelung lässt sich ein Kobaltwürfel mit einer Kantenlänge von 12,5nm detektieren. Dabei sind nicht nur die uniforme Mode, sondern auch lokal angeregte Moden sichtbar. Mittels mikromagnetischer Simulationen lassen sich den Resonanzen Modenbilder zuordnen. Die scheibenförmige Dreifachlage wird mit den FMR-Messungen sowohl mit verringertem Durchmesser, als auch mit reduzierter Zwischenschicht untersucht.