Modifications in magnetic anisotropy of M—type strontium hexaferrite crystals by swift heavy ion irradiation.

Using vibrating sample magnetometery (VSM) 50 MeV Li3+ ion irradiation effects on magnetic properties of single crystals of SrGaxInyFe12−(x+y)O19 (where x=0, 5, 7, 9; y=0, 0.8, 1.3, 1.0), are reported. The substitution of Ga and In in strontium hexaferrite crystals decreases the value of magnetization sharply, which is attributed to shifting of collinear magnetic order to a non-collinear one. Reduction of magnetization is also explained to be as a result of the occupation of the crystallographic sites of Fe3+ by Ga3+ and In3+. The Li3+ ion irradiation decreases the value of magnetization, irrespective of whether the crystals are Ga–In substituted or unsubstituted crystals of SrFe12O19. The result is interpreted in terms of the occurrence of a paramagnetic doublet in crystals replacing magnetic sextuplet as a result of irradiation. Substitution of Ga–In in Strontium hexaferrite decreases the value of anisotropy constant. Irradiation with Li3+ ions increases the values of anisotropy field for both substituted as well as unsubstituted crystals. Substitution with Ga–In also decreases the Curie temperature (Tc) but the irradiation with Li3+ ions does not affect the curie temperature of either Ga–In substituted or pure SrFe12O19 crystals.