Abstract
Using coherent soft x-ray scattering we have measured slow magnetization fluctuations in an Au/Co/Au heterostructure near a thermally driven spin-reorientation phase transition. The intermediate scattering function is well described by a stretched exponential, suggesting cooperative motion through the transition. The decay times were found to exhibit a pronounced maximum as a function of temperature. We argue that the transition proceeds through a cone phase in which the local magnetization evolves continuously from a perpendicular to longitudinal orientation. Our results demonstrate a different and fruitful way to probe the complex spatiotemporal dynamics that arise in unusual magnetic phases with competing anisotropies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 012404 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 82 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 14 2010 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics