Temperature-dependent Gilbert damping of Co2FeAl thin films with different degree of atomic order

Abstract

Half-metallicity and low magnetic damping are perpetually sought for in spintronics materials and full Heusler alloys in this respect provide outstanding properties. However, it is challenging to obtain the well-ordered half-metallic phase in as-deposited full Heusler alloys thin films and theory has struggled to establish a fundamentals understanding of the temperature dependent Gilbert damping in these systems. Here we present a study of the temperature dependent Gilbert damping of differently ordered as-deposited Co2FeAl full Heusler alloy thin films. The sum of inter- and intraband electron scattering in conjunction with the finite electron lifetime in Bloch states govern the Gilbert damping for the well-ordered phase in contrast to the damping of partially-ordered and disordered phases which is governed by interband electronic scattering alone. These results, especially the ultralow room temperature intrinsic damping observed for the well-ordered phase provide new fundamental insights to the physical origin of the Gilbert damping in full Heusler alloy thin films.

14 Pages, 1 Table, 8 Figures, American Physical Society Journal