Mag-O-Mat tutorial -> Setting Properties using Mask Mode

In this topic you will learn about the last of Mag-O-Mat’s methods for specifying media properties – the mask mode. The steps in this method are almost identical to those of the shape mode, in that you first specify a map and then apply it to the map window. You will go through an example of specifying media anisotropy properties in mask mode. The corresponding procedure for modifying the sample’s magnetic state will be entirely analogous to the one described.

A mask is any graphical pattern containing white-colored and non-white colored areas. Mag-O-Mat applies a mask to a map by superposing the mask image over the map and marking the cells overlapping the non-white areas of the mask as the ones whose properties would be altered. Masks can be applied to a single layer of  a component, or to the sample as a whole. Masks are loaded into Mag-O-Mat from external image files. Masks are superimposed on the sample relative to the array projection in the map window. For best results we recommend using black and white masks.

You will continue working with the component from the previous topic. Select the Mask option in the Mode frame to begin the mask-patterning mode. You will soon be loading in a mask to be used for defining a map region in which new properties are to be specified, but first, some preliminaries. As usual make sure that you indeed will be changing properties (not zooming), by ensuring that the toggle button above the map area reads Click to Zoom (you may need to click the toggle button once to achieve this). By default, the full extent of the map window is selected as the region for applying the mask. You may specify a smaller region by sweeping it out with the mouse in the map region. As always, you may carry out usual map zoom actions after clicking the toggle button above the map window so that it reads Click to edit.

Select Anisotropy in the Characteristic box of the Material properties tab. The anisotropy input areas under the Characteristic box become enabled and your map box should now look like Fig. 18. Notice that this media consists of a pre-existing (Mag-O-Mat compatible) uniaxial anisotropy definition. This definition is also selected in the input area. You can edit this anisotropy further as you please by making input changes. You may also remove it altogether by clicking the Delete button. Change the type of this anisotropy by selecting Pinning from the Anisotropy type box and click the Accept button.

Fig. 18. Mag-O-Mat map box depicting pre-existing anisotropy definition.

Now you will add a new anisotropy to the sample using a mask. Proceed as follows to load a mask: Click the button Open mask file in the Mode frame of Mag-O-Mat. The Opening mask file dialog box is displayed. Navigate to the Magsimus Examples folder (../Magsimus/Examples) and select MT_MiscMask1.bmp in the file box (Fig. 19). Click OK to close the dialog box and load the mask. The mask will be displayed in the (now re-labeled) Map image frame to the right of the Mode frame. Click the Apply mask button in the Mask actions frame to apply the mask to the map. Make the following entries: In the Theta frame set Mean = -45, Dev. = 0; in the Phi frame set Mean = 0, Dev. = 0; select Uniaxial in the Anisotropy type box. Click the Accept button to apply the definition to the map box and click the Transfer button to apply all anisotropy definitions to the Magsimus session. Your Mag-O-Mat map and Magsimus System-view window should now like Fig. 20a and Fig. 20b. In Magsimus show the whole design by selecting the first entry (MagOMat tutorial design) of the On display list. The final state of your Magsimus session should now look like Fig. 21.

Fig. 19. Mag-O-Mat's Opening mask file dialog box .

(a)

(b)

Fig. 20. New anisotropies in Mag-O-Mag's map box (a) and in  Magsimus' System-view window (b).

Fig. 21. Final Magsimus Deluxe screen.

Round up

You have now acquainted yourself with all the property-specifying methods available in Mag-O-Mat. You will find all methods useful for myriad design tasks. In the next topic we will wrap up with a brief overview of application session management in Mag-O-Mat.