Investigation of Phase Transitions in Ferromagnetic Nanofilms on a Non-Magnetic Substrate by Computer Simulation

Abstract

Magnetic properties of ferromagnetic nanofilms on non-magnetic substrate are examined by computer simulation. The substrate influence is modeled using the two-dimensional Frenkel-Kontorova potential. The film has a cubic crystal lattice. Cases of different ratio for substrate period and ferromagnetic film period are considered. The difference in film and substrate periods results in film deformations. These deformations result in a change in the magnetic properties of the film. The Ising model and the Metropolis algorithm are used for the study of magnetic properties. The dependence of Curie temperature on film thickness and substrate potential parameters is calculated. Cases of different values for the coverage factor are considered. The deformation of the film layers is reduced away from the substrate when it is compressed or stretched. The Curie temperature increases when the substrate is compressed and decreases when the substrate is stretched. This pattern is performed for films with different thicknesses. If the coating coefficient for the film is different from one, periodic structures with an increased or reduced concentration of atoms are formed in the film first layer. These structures are absent in higher layers.