An electron momentum spectrometer at the Australian National University has been used to study various aspects of different solid state systems. EMS is a transmission mode technique and involves the collision of the incident electron with a bound electron, after which both electrons are ejected and measured in coincidence. Through well defined reaction kinematics the complete valence spectral momentum density A(ɛ,q) can be measured. The spectrometer has been used to measure the spectral momentum densities (spectral functions) of single crystal targets, as well as targets in disordered states. A new spin polarised electron source was constructed and implemented in the ANU spectrometer, which was used to measure spin dependent features of ferromagnetic samples.¶ This thesis is divided into seven chapters, the first chapter is an introduction into the field of electron momentum spectroscopy, highlighting what has been measured before and how the technique has progressed to its present state. Some comparisons to other experimental techniques will be made.¶ The second chapter describes the ANU EMS spectrometer in detail. The technique requires some technical and advanced equipment that is often used in novel ways. The production of thin (20 nm) free standing targets will be detailed, along with the experimental chamber and electronics used to run the apparatus and collect data. The determination of the energy and momentum resolution of the experiment is also described.¶ The third chapter will detail the design and construction of the new spin polarised electron source. The results of commissioning and characterizing the new source will be presented.¶ Chapters four through six will present the measured results. The fourth chapter will detail the single crystalline measurements for the group eleven noble metals (Cu, Ag and Au). Each sample was measured along three high symmetry directions and compared to a DFT calculation using the LDA and a FP-LMTO basis. The fifth chapter will include the results from samples that were in disordered states, a measurement which is unique to the EMS technique. The polycrystalline and amorphous states of the Si and Ge semiconductors are presented and conclusions are made to the degree of difference in the results and to which theoretical approach to the unique amorphous state of the semiconductors best matches the EMS results. The sixth chapter includes results of ferromagnetic iron, measured using the spin polarised electron source. The spectrometer was used to measure spin-polarised electron-energy-loss-spectroscopy (SPEELS) and magnetic electron-Compton profiles. A theoretical investigation is also presented in chapter six which details the advancements required in the spin polarised electron gun to measure an accurate spin-polarised EMS spectra of a ferromagnetic Fe sample.¶ Chapter 7 includes the summary of all the results presented and conclusions reached from the comparison of the measured EMS spectra and various theoretical calculations. A discussion is presented about the future directions and possibilities of the EMS technique.

<p>This thesis addresses electron spin phenomena in semi-conductor quantum dots/anti-dots from a computational perspective. In the first paper (paper I) we have studied spin-dependent transport through open quantum dots, i.e., dots strongly coupled to their leads, within the Hubbard model. Results in this model were found consistent with experimental data and suggest that spin-degeneracy is lifted inside the dot – even at zero magnetic field.</p><p>Similar systems were also studied with electron-electron effects incorporated via Density Functional Theory (DFT) in paper III. Within DFT we found a significant spin-polarisation in the dot at low electron densities. As the electron density increases the spin polarisation in the dot gradually diminishes. These findings are consistent with available experimental observations. Notably, the polarisation is qualitatively different from the one found in the Hubbard model – this indicates that the simplified approach to electronelectron interaction in the Hubbard model might not always be reliable.</p><p>In paper II we propose a spin-filter device based on resonant backscattering of edge states against a quantum anti-dot embedded in a quantum wire. A magnetic field is applied and the spin up/spin down states are separated through Zeeman splitting. Their respective resonant states may be tuned so that the device can be used to filter either spin in a controlled way.</p> / Report code: LIU-Tek-Lic 2005:65

No description available.

Cette thèse est consacrée à l’étude des mécanismes de propagation de parois magnétiques dans des films et des pistes magnétiques basés sur des matériaux à anisotropie magnétique perpendiculaire qui sont très prometteurs pour les mémoires magnétiques non volatiles d’ultra haute densité. Je me suis principalement intéressé à l’influence des défauts structuraux sur les mécanismes de dépiegeage de parois en utilisant la technique de microscopie Kerr ainsi que des mesures de transport. Trois résultats importants ont été mis en évidence : (1) Dans des vannes de spin de type CoNi/Cu/CoNi, il existe une forte influence du champ dipolaire généré par la couche dure qui peut influencer la nucléation parasite de paroi magnétique dans la couche libre et créer une propagation asymétrique sous l’effet d’un courant polarisé. J’ai aussi montré que dans des pistes sub-50nm, le renversement de l’aimantation s’effectue par des événements multiples de nucléation à cause de la présence de centres de piégeage fort qui bloquent la propagation ; (2) En visualisant la géométrie des domaines magnétiques et en étudiant les lois de reptation, j’ai montré la présence d’une faible densité de défauts structuraux et de faibles champs de propagation dans les multicouches texturés/amorphe de CoNi-CoFeB et cristallisés de Ta-CoFeB-MgO ; (3) J’ai finalement mis en évidence un effet du transfert de spin à de faibles densités de courant (≈5x1011 A/cm2) dans les pistes de CoNi-CoFeB. J’ai aussi montré une forte influence du champ d’Oesterd sur la propagation de parois liée à la présence de faibles champs de propagation. Finalement, dans le cas des pistes basées sur des films cristallisés de Ta-CoFeB-MgO, j’ai pu mesurer la vitesse sur 10 ordres de grandeur et montrer que les parois se propagent à des champs de propagation ultra faibles (0,1mT). / This work is focused on the study of magnetic domain wall propagation mechanisms in the thin films and wires based on materials with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy which are promissing for the non-volatile magnetic memory of ultra high density. I’m interested in the influence of structural defects on the mechanisms of domain wall propagation by using the Kerr microscopy technique and the transport measurements. Three important results were obtained: (1) In the spin valve structure of CoNi/Cu/CoNi, a strong influence of the dipolar magnetic field induced by the hard layer can generate a parasitic nucleation in the soft layer and create an asymmetric domain wall propagation driven by a spin polarized current. I also demonstrated that in sub-50nm wires, the nature of magnetization reversal process is the multiple nucleation events because of strong pinning centers that hinder the domain wall motion; (2) By observing the magnetic domain geometry et studying the creep law, I have pointed out that in the CoNi-CoFeB multilayers and the crystallized Ta-CoFeB-MgO multilayers, the structural defect density is low and the propagation fields can be reduced; (3) I found a spin-transfer effect with low current density (≈5x1011 A/cm2) in CoNi-CoFeB wires. I also demonstrated that the Oersted field can strongly influence the domain wall motion, especially in the material with low propagation field. Finally, in the Ta-CoFeB-MgO wires, I could measure a wide range of domain wall velocity and I show that the domain wall can move at a very low propagation field (0.1mT)

No description available.

This thesis addresses electron spin phenomena in semi-conductor quantum dots/anti-dots from a computational perspective. In the first paper (paper I) we have studied spin-dependent transport through open quantum dots, i.e., dots strongly coupled to their leads, within the Hubbard model. Results in this model were found consistent with experimental data and suggest that spin-degeneracy is lifted inside the dot – even at zero magnetic field. Similar systems were also studied with electron-electron effects incorporated via Density Functional Theory (DFT) in paper III. Within DFT we found a significant spin-polarisation in the dot at low electron densities. As the electron density increases the spin polarisation in the dot gradually diminishes. These findings are consistent with available experimental observations. Notably, the polarisation is qualitatively different from the one found in the Hubbard model – this indicates that the simplified approach to electronelectron interaction in the Hubbard model might not always be reliable. In paper II we propose a spin-filter device based on resonant backscattering of edge states against a quantum anti-dot embedded in a quantum wire. A magnetic field is applied and the spin up/spin down states are separated through Zeeman splitting. Their respective resonant states may be tuned so that the device can be used to filter either spin in a controlled way. / <p>Report code: LIU-Tek-Lic 2005:65</p>