Investigation of anisotropy constants dependence of ultra-thin ferromagnetic films with second order perturbed Heisenberg Hamiltonian

The variation of energy of ferromagnetic ultra-thin films with second and fourth order anisotropy was investigated using Heisenberg Hamiltonian with second order perturbation. The study was limited to sc(001) film with three layers. Graphs indicate energy minimums at certain values of second order anisotropy, fourth order anisotropy and angle. Films with fourth order anisotropy (D_m⁽⁴⁾)/ω=4 can be easily oriented in the direction given by angle of 2.66 radians for the values of other energy terms used in this simulation. When the second order anisotropy (D_m⁽²⁾)/ω is 3.1, preferred direction is 0.754 radians. When the second order anisotropy varies at a constant value of fourth order anisotropy, the graph indicates more energy minimums.

Keywords: Heisenberg Hamiltonian; magnetic thin films; magnetic anisotropies; spin

DOI: 10.4038/josuk.v3i0.2740

J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 3 (2007) : 73-82