Tunable magnetic anisotropy in permalloy thin films grown on holographic relief gratings

Abstract : The aim of the present work is to show a simple method that combines conventional laser interferometry and standard thin film deposition techniques to fabricate modulated magnetic nanostructures with lateral periodicity, and to tailor the magnetic properties by varying geometrical parameters. Well defined Ni80Fe20 magnetic thin films with sinusoidal grating profiles were obtained with a periodicity of 1.2 μm and different grating depths. Magnetic studies via ferromagnetic resonance and magneto optical Kerr effect demonstrate the tunability of the induced in-plane magnetic anisotropy with depth profile.