Crystallographically amorphous ferrimagnetic alloys: Comparing a localized atomistic spin model with experiments

Abstract

We present a computational model of crystallographically amorphous ferrimagnetic alloys using a stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation of motion for atomistic spins and an atomistic spin Hamiltonian with Heisenberg exchange. The spontaneous equilibrium magnetization is calculated and a comparison with a mean field model is made. The simulations show excellent agreement with experiments on GdFeCo using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism to determine the individual sublattice magnetizations. The calculated temperature dependence of the magnetization shows a polarization of the Gd sublattice leading to a common Curie temperature, in agreement with the experimental data. The intersublattice exchange is shown to be an important energy transfer channel for ultrafast dynamics.