0000000000204481
AUTHOR
Catherine Jenkins
Compositional dependence of element-specific magnetic moments in Ni2MnGa films
Element-specific magnetic moments were investigated for epitaxial Ni2Mn1+xGa1−x and (Ni2MnGa)1−x(Co2FeSi)x Heusler films using x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray circular magnetic dichroism in transmission. The epitaxial films of the Ni2MnGa-derived compositions were prepared by dc-sputtering on Al2O3 substrates at 773 K. X-ray diffraction confirms a (1 1 0) oriented growth. An increase in the Mn concentration reduces the magnetic spin moment of both Mn and Ni. An increase in the content of Co2FeSi in the Ni2MnGa compound leads to an increase in the Mn and Ni spin moments and to a decrease in Tm for 5% Co2FeSi and finally to a suppression of the phase transition for 20% Co2FeSi. The or…
Temperature-induced martensite in magnetic shape memory Fe2MnGa observed by photoemission electron microscopy
The magnetic domain structure in single crystals of a Heusler shape memory compound near the composition Fe2MnGa was observed during phase transition by photoelectron emission microscopy at Beamline 11.0.1.1 of the Advanced Light Source. The behavior is comparable with recent observations of an adaptive martensite phase in prototype Ni2MnGa, although the pinning in the recent work is an epitaxial interface and in this work the effective pinning plane is a boundary between martensitic variants that transform in a self-accommodating way from the single crystal austenite phase present at high temperatures. Temperature dependent observations of the twinning structure give information as to the …
Challenge of magnetism in strongly correlated open-shell 2p systems.
We report on theoretical investigations of the exotic magnetism in rubidium sesquioxide ${\mathrm{Rb}}_{4}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$, a model correlated system with an open $2p$ shell. Experimental investigations indicated that ${\mathrm{Rb}}_{4}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ is a magnetically frustrated insulator. The frustration is explained here by electronic structure calculations that incorporate the correlation between the oxygen $2p$ electrons and deal with the mixed-valent oxygen. This leads to a physical picture where the symmetry is reduced because one third of the oxygen in ${\mathrm{Rb}}_{4}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ is nonmagnetic while the remaining two thirds assemble in antiferromagnetic arrangements. A d…
Electronic properties of Co2MnSi thin films studied by hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
This work reports on the electronic properties of thin films of the Heusler compound Co2MnSi studied by means of hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The results of photoelectron spectroscopy from multilayered thin films excited by photons of 2?8?keV are presented. The measurements were performed on (substrate/buffer layer/Co2MnSi(z)/capping layer) multilayers with a thickness z ranging from 0 to 50?nm. It is shown that high energy spectroscopy is a valuable tool for non-destructive depth profiling. The experimentally determined values of the inelastic electron mean free path in Co2MnSi increase from about 19.5 to 67?? on increasing the kinetic energy from about 1.9 to 6.8?keV. T…
Exotic magnetism in the alkali sesquioxidesRb4O6andCs4O6
Among the various alkali oxides the sesquioxides ${\text{Rb}}_{4}{\text{O}}_{6}$ and ${\text{Cs}}_{4}{\text{O}}_{6}$ are of special interest. Electronic-structure calculations using the local spin-density approximation predicted that ${\text{Rb}}_{4}{\text{O}}_{6}$ should be a half-metallic ferromagnet, which was later contradicted when an experimental investigation of the temperature-dependent magnetization of ${\text{Rb}}_{4}{\text{O}}_{6}$ showed a low-temperature magnetic transition and differences between zero-field-cooled and field-cooled measurements. Such behavior is known from spin glasses and frustrated systems. ${\text{Rb}}_{4}{\text{O}}_{6}$ and ${\text{Cs}}_{4}{\text{O}}_{6}$ c…
Design Scheme of New Tetragonal Heusler Compounds for Spin-Transfer Torque Applications and its Experimental Realization
Band Jahn-Teller type structural instabilities of cubic Mn(2)YZ Heusler compounds causing tetragonal distortions can be predicted by ab initio band-structure calculations. This allows for identification of new Heusler materials with tunable magnetic and structural properties that can satisfy the demands for spintronic applications, such as in spin-transfer torque-based devices.
Heusler compounds as ternary intermetallic nanoparticles: Co2FeGa
This work describes the preparation of ternary nanoparticles based on the Heusler compound Co2FeGa. Nanoparticles with sizes of about 20?nm were synthesized by reducing a methanol impregnated mixture of CoCl2 ? 6H2O, Fe(NO3)3 ? 9H2O and Ga(NO3)3 ? xH2O after loading on fumed silica. The dried samples were heated under pure H2 gas at 900??C. The obtained nanoparticles?embedded in silica?were investigated by means of x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, temperature dependent magnetometry and M??bauer spectroscopy. All methods clearly revealed the Heusler-type L21 structure of the nanoparticles. In particular, anomalous XRD data demonstrate the correct composition in addi…
Electronic, magnetic, and structural properties of the ferrimagnet Mn2CoSn
The magnetic ground state of the Heusler compound Mn${}_{2}$CoSn was predicted to be nearly half-metallic ferrimagnetic with a high spin polarization by ab initio electronic structure calculations. Mn${}_{2}$CoSn was synthesized, and the magnetic behavior of the compound was studied using a superconducting quantum interference device and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism. The experimental values were found to be in fair accordance with the theoretical predictions. The electronic structure and the crystal structure of Mn${}_{2}$CoSn were characterized comprehensively using x-ray powder diffraction, $^{119}\mathrm{Sn}$ M\"ossbauer spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and hard x-ray photo…