METHOD OF MAGNETICALLY PATTERNING A THIN FILM BY MASK-CONTROLLED LOCAL PHASE TRANSITION

摘要

A method of producing a patterned magnetic nanostructure is disclosed. Themethod includes providing a substrate having a non-magnetic single layer or multi layerfilm that can be converted into a magnetic state by annealing and/or mixing. The methodfurther includes positioning a mask having a desired pattern and resolution associatedwith the patterned magnetic nanostructure on or over the film. The method additionallyincludes subjecting the mask-covered substrate to a beam of radiation (focussed orunfocussed) having sufficient energy to locally anneal and/or mix the non-magnetic orweak-magnetic single-layer or multi layer film. Because of the mask effect, only thedesired portions of the non-magnetic film are exposed to the beam of radiation. As such,the desired portions of the non-magnetic film are changed from a non-magnetic to amagnetic state to produce an array of magnetic elements in a non-magnetic matrix. Thesize of each magnetic element is dependent on the resolution of mask.