Mechanism of electrical switching of ultra-thin CoO/Pt bilayers

We study current-induced switching of the N\'eel vector in CoO/Pt bilayers to understand the underlaying antiferromagnetic switching mechanism. Surprisingly, we find that for ultra-thin CoO/Pt bilayers electrical pulses along the same path can lead to an increase or decrease of the spin Hall magnetoresistance signal, depending on the current density of the pulse. By comparing the results of these electrical measurements to XMLD-PEEM imaging of the antiferromagnetic domain structure before and after the application of current pulses, we reveal the reorientation of the N\'eel vector in ultra-thin CoO(4 nm). This allows us to determine that even opposite resistance changes can result from a th…

Domain wall transformations and hopping in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3nanostructures imaged with high resolution x-ray magnetic microscopy

We investigate the effect of electric current pulse injection on domain walls in La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) (LSMO) half-ring nanostructures by high resolution x-ray magnetic microscopy at room temperature. Due to the easily accessible Curie temperature of LSMO, we can employ reasonable current densities to induce the Joule heating necessary to observe effects such as hopping of the domain walls between different pinning sites and nucleation/annihilation events. Such effects are the dominant features close to the Curie temperature, while spin torque is found to play a small role close to room temperature. We are also able to observe thermally activated domain wall transformations and we find that,…

Quantification of propagating and standing surface acoustic waves by stroboscopic X-ray photoemission electron microscopy.

The quantification of surface acoustic waves (SAWs) in LiNbO3 piezoelectric crystals by stroboscopic X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM), with a temporal smearing below 80 ps and a spatial resolution below 100 nm, is reported. The contrast mechanism is the varying piezoelectric surface potential associated with the SAW phase. Thus, kinetic energy spectra of photoemitted secondary electrons measure directly the SAW electrical amplitude and allow for the quantification of the associated strain. The stroboscopic imaging combined with a deliberate detuning allows resolving and quantifying the respective standing and propagating components of SAWs from a superposition of waves. Furth…

Piezo-electrical control of gyration dynamics of magnetic vortices

In this work, we first statically image the electrically controlled magnetostatic configuration of magnetic vortex states and then we dynamically image the time-resolved vortex core gyration tuned by electric fields. We demonstrate the manipulation of the vortex core gyration orbit by engineering the magnetic anisotropies. We achieve this by electric fields in a synthetic heterostructure consisting of a piezoelement coupled with magnetostrictive microstructures, where the magnetic anisotropy can be controlled by strain. We directly show the strong impact of the tailored anisotropy on the static shape of the vortex state and the dynamic vortex core orbit. The results demonstrate the possibil…

Multi-sensor spectral synergies for crop stress detection and monitoring in the optical domain: A review

Electronic properties of *-oriented thin films

Abstract To perform high precision measurements of the transport anisotropy, epitaxial, a *-oriented thin films of UPd 2 Al 3 have been prepared on LaAlO 3 (1 1 0) substrates. The critical temperature T c ≈ 1.75 K and the upper critical field B c 2 ≈ 3 T are comparable to typical bulk values. In contrast to UNi 2 Al 3 , we observed only a weak anisotropy in directional resistivity measurements, especially no dependence of the superconducting transition temperature on the direction of the applied current. Hall effect measurements show two characteristic minima at T = 16 K ≈ T N and T ≈ 6 K , which corresponds to features seen in earlier measurements on c *-oriented films.

The Poisson Ratio in CoFe2O4Spinel Thin Films

The response of epitaxial CoFe2O4 thin films to biaxial compressive stress imposed by MgAl2O4 and SrTiO3 single crystalline substrates is studied using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. It is found that the Poisson ratio ν signals a non-auxetic behavior and depends on the substrate used. The Raman modes show an increase in frequency when increasing compressive strain by reducing film thickness; this is due to the shrinking of the unit cell volume. Such behavior is in qualitative agreement with recent ab initio calculations, although the measured values are significantly smaller than predictions. In contrast, the measured Poisson ratio is found to be in good agreement with expectatio…

Magnetic domain structure of La0.7Sr0.3MnO 3 thin-films probed at variable temperature with scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis

The domain configuration of 50 nm thick La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films has been directly investigated using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA), with magnetic contrast obtained without the requirement for prior surface preparation. The large scale domain structure reflects a primarily four-fold anisotropy, with a small uniaxial component, consistent with magneto-optic Kerr effect measurements. We also determine the domain transition profile and find it to be in agreement with previous estimates of the domain wall width in this material. The temperature dependence of the image contrast is investigated and compared to superconducting-quantum interference device magnetometry …

Magnetoelectric properties of epitaxialFe3O4thin films on (011) PMN-PT piezosubstrates

We determine the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of 33 nm thick ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ films epitaxially deposited by rf-magnetron sputtering on unpoled (011) ${[{\mathrm{PbMg}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{Nb}}_{2/3}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}]}_{0.68}\ensuremath{-}{[{\mathrm{PbTiO}}_{3}]}_{0.32}$ (PMN-PT) substrates. The magnetoresistance (MR), as well as the magnetization reversal, strongly depend on the in-plane crystallographic direction of the epitaxial (011) ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ film and strain. When the magnetic field is applied along [100], the magnetization loops are slanted and the sign of the longitudinal MR changes from positive to negative around the Verwey transiti…

Preparation of thin films of the heavy fermion superconductor UNi2Al3

Abstract Thin films of the heavy fermion superconductor UNi 2 Al 3 were prepared by coevaporation of the elementary components in an MBE-system. We obtained textured (1 0 0)-oriented films of this hexagonal compound depositing on Al 2 O 3 substrates. Epitaxial growth was observed on (1 1 2)-oriented orthorhombical YAlO 3 substrates. However, due to pronounced strain the UNi 2 Al 3 (1 0 0)-axis is shortened by ≈2%. No superconductivity of the films was observed which can be associated with the high impurity concentration deduced from R ( T ) and XRD investigations.

Dynamics and inertia of skyrmionic spin structures

Understanding the motion of magnetic skyrmions is essential if they are to be used as information carriers in devices. It is now shown that topological confinement endows the skyrmions with an unexpectedly large mass, which plays a key role in their dynamics.

The effect of magnetic anisotropy on the spin configurations of patterned La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO3 elements.

We study the effect of magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the magnetic configurations of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 bar and triangle elements using photoemission electron microscopy imaging. The dominant remanent state is a low energy flux-closure state for both thin (15 nm) and thick (50 nm) elements. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which competes with the dipolar energy, causes a strong modification of the spin configuration in the thin elements, depending on the shape, size and orientation of the structures. We investigate the magnetic switching processes and observe in triangular shaped elements a displacement of the vortex core along the easy axis for an external magnetic field applied close to t…

Simultaneous imaging of strain waves and induced magnetization dynamics at the nanometer scale

Changes in strain can be used to modify electronic and magnetic properties in crystal structures, to manipulate nanoparticles and cells, or to control chemical reactions. The magneto-elastic (ME) effect--the change of magnetic properties caused by the elastic deformation (strain) of a magnetic material--has been proposed as an alternative approach to magnetic fields for the low power control of magnetization states of nanoelements since it avoids charge currents, which entail ohmic losses. Multiferroic heterostructures \cite{Zheng2004} and nanocomposites have exploited this effect in search of electric control of magnetic states, mostly in the static regime. Quantitative studies combining s…

Anisotropic transport properties ofUNi2Al3thin films

Experimental results on the transport anisotropy in thin films of the heavy fermion superconductor $\mathrm{U}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}{\mathrm{Al}}_{3}$ are presented. They show that the eletronic transport in $\mathrm{U}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}{\mathrm{Al}}_{3}$ for different directions is strongly dominated by different sheets of the Fermi surface, and that the magnetic moments must be assigned to a cylindrical part around the $c$ axis. Founded on the findings about the Fermi surface, the dependence of the resistive superconducting transition temperature ${T}_{c}$ on the current direction in $\mathrm{U}{\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}{\mathrm{Al}}_{3}$ can be explained as the result of weakly coupled superconducting …

Preparation of superconducting thin films of UNiAl

Abstract Epitaxial thin films of the unconventional heavy fermion superconductor UNi 2 Al 3 we prepared by coevaporation of the elementary components in a molecular beam epitaxy system (MBE). The phase purity and structural quality of the films deposited on (0 1 0)- or (1 1 2)-oriented YAlO 3 substrates were studied by X-ray diffraction and RHEED. The observed R ( T ) behavior is consistent with data obtained from bulk samples and proves the purity of the films. Superconductivity was found with transition temperature T c =0.97 K.

Dynamics and topological mass of skyrmionic spin structures (presentation video)

Skyrmions are topologically protected particle-like configurations, with a topological complexity described by their Skyrmion number. In magnetic systems, they have been numerically predicted to exhibit rich dynamics, such as the gyrotropic and breathing modes, dominated by their topology. Recent experimental advances brought their static manipulation well under control. However, their dynamical behaviour is largely unexplored experimentally. In this work, we provide with the first direct observation of eigenmode skyrmion dynamics. In particular, we present dynamical imaging data with high temporal and spatial resolution to demonstrate the GHz gyrotropic mode of a single skyrmion bubble, as…

Magnetic Anisotropy Engineering in Thin Film Ni Nanostructures by Magnetoelastic Coupling

Multi-sensor spectral synergies for crop stress detection and monitoring in the optical domain: A review

Remote detection and monitoring of the vegetation responses to stress became relevant for sustainable agriculture. Ongoing developments in optical remote sensing technologies have provided tools to increase our understanding of stress-related physiological processes. Therefore, this study aimed to provide an overview of the main spectral technologies and retrieval approaches for detecting crop stress in agriculture. Firstly, we present integrated views on: i) biotic and abiotic stress factors, the phases of stress, and respective plant responses, and ii) the affected traits, appropriate spectral domains and corresponding methods for measuring traits remotely. Secondly, representative result…

The effect of magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the domain structure of patterned Fe2CrSi Heusler alloy thin films

The effects of magnetic anisotropy on domain structures in half-metallic Heusler alloy Fe2CrSi thin film elements were investigated using high resolution x-ray magnetic circular dichroism photoemission electron microscopy. The transition of the dominating contribution from the magnetocrystalline anisotropy to the shape anisotropy is observed in square-shaped elements when reducing the size below 2.0–2.5 μm. In particular, we identify in disk-shaped Heusler elements the vortex state as the ground state. The shape-anisotropy dominated, well-defined magnetization configuration shows the potential of the Fe2CrSi Heusler alloy for applications in vortex-core- or domain-wall-devices, where the hi…

Magnetic configurations in nanostructured Co2MnGa thin film elements

The magnetic configuration of nanostructured elements fabricated from thin films of the Heusler compound Co2MnGa was determined by high-resolution x-ray magnetic microscopy, and the magnetic properties of continuous Co2MnGa thin films were determined by magnetometry measurements. A four-fold magnetic anisotropy with an anisotropy constant of kJ m−3 was deduced, and x-ray microscopy measurements have shown that the nanostructured Co2MnGa elements exhibit reproducible magnetic states dominated by shape anisotropy, with a minor contribution from the magneto-crystalline anisotropy, showing that the spin structure can be tailored by judiciously choosing the geometry.

Direct imaging of delayed magneto-dynamic modes induced by surface acoustic waves.

The magnetoelastic effect—the change of magnetic properties caused by the elastic deformation of a magnetic material—has been proposed as an alternative approach to magnetic fields for the low-power control of magnetization states of nanoelements since it avoids charge currents, which entail ohmic losses. Here, we have studied the effect of dynamic strain accompanying a surface acoustic wave on magnetic nanostructures in thermal equilibrium. We have developed an experimental technique based on stroboscopic X-ray microscopy that provides a pathway to the quantitative study of strain waves and magnetization at the nanoscale. We have simultaneously imaged the evolution of both strain and magne…

Evidence for Multiband Superconductivity in the Heavy Fermion CompoundUNi2Al3

Epitaxial thin films of the heavy fermion superconductor UNi2Al3 with Tc(max)=0.98 K were investigated. The transition temperature Tc depends on the current direction which can be related to superconducting gaps opening at different temperatures. Also the influence of the magnetic ordering at TN approximately 5 K on R(T) is strongly anisotropic, indicating different coupling between the magnetic moments and itinerant charge carriers on the multisheeted Fermi surface. The upper critical field Hc2(T) suggests an unconventional spin-singlet superconducting state.

ELECTRICAL-FIELD CONTROL OF MAGNETISM MEDIATED BY STRAIN IN Ni NANOSTRUCTURES FABRICATED ON PRE-POLED PMN–PT (011)

We investigate the effects of piezoelectric-generated strain on the magnetization configuration of Ni nanostructures fabricated on pre-poled piezoelectric (011) [ Pb ( Mg 0.33 Nb 0.66) O 3]0.68–[ PbTiO 3]0.32 (PMN–PT) by high resolution X-ray microscopy. We observe a strong uniaxial anisotropy in the Ni nanostructures, due to the relaxation of the substrate following the deposition of the Ni . The anisotropy can be modified by the application of an electric field to the piezoelectric substrate (thus generating a piezoelectric strain in the system) through the magneto-elastic effect. By applying an electric field to the PMN–PT, the magnetization configuration in nanostructured Ni squares an…