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Continuously graded ferromagnetic thin films represent a new class of magnonic materials, where a spin-wave resonance spectrum can be tuned in resonance frequencies/fields, number of modes and even dispersion law by the magnetic properties profiling across the film thickness. In the paper, we demonstrate that temperature is another degree of freedom controlling the spin-wave spectra in graded magnetic materials. We show that temperature affects the spectrum not only in a trivial way via the temperature dependence of magnetization and related quantities, but rather through modification of magnetic structure of a film due to the Curie temperature being crossed by fractions of its thickness. The profile that is continuous at lower temperatures may become discontinuous at higher temperatures. To demonstrate this, four 200-nm thick vertically graded epitaxial Pd1-xFex films were synthesized using molecular beam epitaxy technique, in particular, two with the linear (2-10 at.% and 12-18 at.% range of the iron content), one with the sine and one with the cosine (both with the 2-10 at.% range of the iron content) distribution profiles. The resonance spectra of standing spin waves were studied by the cavity ferromagnetic resonance at 9.4 GHz in the temperature range of 20-300 K. Versatile spin-wave excitation patterns were obtained, and drastic evolution of their excitation energies, and number of modes with temperature was observed. Based on the modeling, temperature dependences of the spin-wave stiffness D and magnitudes of the interface $\alpha_{inter}$ and surface $\alpha_{surf}$ pinning constants were obtained. Our study shows that in addition to a continuous grading of magnetic properties of thin films, temperature provides another powerful and well elaborated tool for modifying the magnetic grading profile and thus, flexile tuning the spectrum of spin-wave excitations.

We present the ab initio results of the structural and magnetic properties of the Pd host matrix implanted with Fe solute atoms at various concentrations. By means of density functional theory we confirm that iron impurities are able to initialize significant magnetization of the Pd atoms, when the impurity consentation exceeds 3 at.%. Besides, we demonstrate that the imposed magnetization depends on impurity positions in the host matrix, in particular, there is a maximum of magnetization for a uniform distribution of the iron impurity.

We report on the formation of the dilute $Pd_{1-x}Fe_x$ compositions with tunable magnetic properties under an ion-beam implantation of epitaxial Pd thin films. Binary $Pd_{1-x}Fe_x$ alloys with a mean iron content $x$ of $0.025$, $0.035$ or $0.075$ were obtained by the implantation of $40 keV$ $Fe^+$ ions into the palladium films on MgO (001) substrate to the doses of $0.5\cdot10^{16}, 1.0\cdot10^{16}$ and $3.0\cdot10^{16}$ $ions/cm^2$, respectively. Structural and magnetic studies have shown that iron atoms occupy regular fcc-lattice Pd-sites without the formation of any secondary crystallographic phase. All the iron implanted Pd films reveal ferromagnetism at low temperatures (below $200 K$) with both the Curie temperature and saturation magnetization determined by the implanted iron dose. In contrast to the magnetic properties of the molecular beam epitaxy grown $Pd_{1-x}Fe_x$ alloy films with the similar iron contents, the Fe-implanted Pd films possess weaker in-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy, and, accordingly, a lower coercivity. The observed multiple ferromagnetic resonances in the implanted $Pd_{1-x}Fe_x$ films indicate a formation of a magnetically inhomogeneous state due to spinodal decomposition into regions, presumably layers, with identical crystal symmetry but different iron contents. The multiphase magnetic structure is robust with respect to the vacuum annealing at $770 K$, though develops towards well-defined local $Pd-Fe$ compositions., Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, 33 references

In the paper we present the results of extensive studies of palladium-rich Pd1-xFex alloy films epitaxially grown on MgO single-crystal substrate. In a composition range of x = 0.01-0.07 these materials are soft ferromagnets, the saturation magnetization and magnetic anisotropy of which can be tuned by its composition. Vibrating sample magnetometry was used to study temperature dependences of spontaneous magnetic moment and to establish the temperature of magnetic ordering (Curie temperature). Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements at low temperatures in the in-plane and out-of-plane geometries revealed the four-fold in-plane magnetic anisotropy with the easy directions along the <110> axes of the substrate. The modelling of the angular dependence of the field for resonance allowed to extract the cubic and tetragonal contributions to the magnetic anisotropy of the films and establish their dependence on the concentration of iron in the alloy. Experimental data are discussed in the framework of existing theories of dilute magnetic alloys. Using the anisotropy constants established from FMR, the magnetic hysteresis loops are reproduced utilizing the Stoner-Wohlfarth model thus indicating the predominant coherent magnetic moment rotation at low temperatures. The obtained results compile a database of magnetic properties of a palladium-iron alloy considered as a material for superconducting spintronics., Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Journal of Alloys and Compounds

The work presents the extended theoretical model of the electrical conductance in non-magnetic and magnetic nano-size point contacts. The developed approach describes diffusive, quasi-ballistic, ballistic and quantum regimes of the spin-resolved conductance. It is based on the electron transport through metallic junction within approach of the circular constriction. The model provides unified description of the contact resistance from Maxwell diffusive through the ballistic to purely quantum transport regimes without any residual terms depending from the scale. An application are given for experimental treatment of the golden nanocontacts as a non-magnetic case and Permalloy nanowire with/without domain wall as example for the magnetic system. The model of quantum point contact assumes that contact area can be replaced by the quantum object (i.e. magnetic tunnel junction, narrow domain wall, etc.), where potential energy profile determine its electrical properties., Comment: 4 fugures

Magnetic anisotropies of Co-implanted ZnO (0001) films grown on single-crystalline Al2O3 (11-20) substrates have been studied by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) technique for different cobalt implantation doses. The FMR data show that the easy and hard axes have a periodicity of 60 degrees in the film plane, in agreement with the hexagonal structure of the ZnO films. This six-fold in-plane magnetic anisotropy, which is observed for the first time in ZnO-based diluted magnetic semiconductors, is attributed to the substitution of cobalt on Zn sites in the ZnO structure, and a clear indication for long range ferromagnetic ordering between substitutional cobalt ions in the single-crystalline ZnO films., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

We have studied the structural, magnetic and electronic properties of Co-implanted ZnO (0001) films grown on Al2O3 (1120) substrates for different implantation doses and over a wide temperature range. Strong room temperature ferromagnetism is observed with magnetic parameters depending on the cobalt implantation dose. A detailed analysis of the structural and magnetic properties indicates that there are two magnetic phases in Co-implanted ZnO films. One is a ferromagnetic phase due to the formation of long range ferromagnetic ordering between implanted magnetic cobalt ions in the ZnO layer, the second one is a superparamagnetic phase, which occurs due to the formation of metallic cobalt clusters in the Al2O3 substrate. Using x-ray resonant magnetic scattering, the element specific magnetization of cobalt, oxygen and Zn was investigated. Magnetic dichroism was observed at the Co L2,3 edges as well as at the O K edge. In addition, the anomalous Hall effect is also observed, supporting the intrinsic nature of ferromagnetism in Co-implanted ZnO films., Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures

We report on structural, magnetic and electronic properties of Co-implanted TiO2 rutile single crystals for different implantation doses. Strong ferromagnetism at room temperature and above is observed in TiO2 rutile plates after cobalt ion implantation, with magnetic parameters depending on the cobalt implantation dose. While the structural data indicate the presence of metallic cobalt clusters, the multiplet structure of the Co L3 edge in the XAS spectra gives clear evidence for a substitutional Co 2+ state. The detailed analysis of the structural and magnetic properties indicates that there are two magnetic phases in Co-implanted TiO2 plates. One is a ferromagnetic phase due to the formation of long range ferromagnetic ordering between implanted magnetic cobalt ions in the rutile phase, and the second one is a superparamagnetic phase originates from the formation of metallic cobalt clusters in the implanted region. Using x-ray resonant magnetic scattering, the element specific magnetization of cobalt, oxygen and titanium in Co-implanted TiO2 single crystals are investigated. Magnetic dichroism was observed at the Co L edges as well as at the O K edge. The interaction mechanism, which leads to ferromagnetic ordering of substituted cobalt ions in the host matrix, is also discussed., Comment: 19 pages, 16 figures

We report on the structural and magnetic properties of a cobalt-implanted ZnO film grown on a sapphire substrate. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy reveal the presence of a (10-10)-oriented hexagonal Co phase in the Al2O3 sapphire substrate, but not in the ZnO film. Co clusters, with a diameter of is about 5-6 nm, form a Co rich layer in the substrate close to the ZnO/Al2O3 interface. Magnetization measurements indicate that there exist two different magnetic phases in the implanted region. One originates from the Co clusters in Al2O3, the other one belongs to a homogeneous ferromagnetic phase with a ferromagnetic Curie temperature far above room temperature and can be attributed to Co substitution on Zn sites in the ZnO layer. We have observed magnetic dichroism at the Co L2,3 and O K edges at room temperature as well as the multiplet structure in x-ray absorption spectra around the Co L3 edge, supporting the intrinsic nature of the observed ferromagnetism in Co-implanted ZnO film. The magnetic moment per substituted cobalt is found about 2.81 Bohr magneton which is very close to the theoretical expected value of 3 Bohr magneton per Co atom for Co 2+ in its high spin state., Comment: 9 pages, 14 figures