Magnetic resonance to examine the dynamics of magnetization in magnetic thin films

Ferromagnetic resonance describes the precessional motion of magnetization in the ferromagnetic material under the influence of external magnetic field. This study mainly focuses on the design and construction of a broadband ferromagnetic resonance station in contemplation of probing the magnetization dynamics of magnetic thin films in the microwave frequency range (up to 6 GHz). Two measurement techniques have been developed: measurement with the help of a vector network analyzer (VNA-FMR) technique and with Lock-in detection. Resonance is induced in the thin film with a coplanar waveguide, and the change in electromagnetic energy has been examined in the frequency and field sweeps. Both of these techniques employ a flip-chip setup in which the sample is placed face-down on the CPW. Frequency swept VNA-FMR technique unravels the static magnetic properties such as saturation induction, anisotropy fields, effective magnetization and Land’e g-factor, whereas, the Lock-in detection technique measures the dynamic properties of magnetic thin films which are damping and loss mechanisms. Both of these setups are capable of conducting broadband frequency and field swept measurements in in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OOP) orientations. The present study will be helpful in enhancing the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials by doing the full angle dependent measurements in both IP and OOP orientations.