Magnetic microstructure of the spin reorientation transition: a computer experiment

Properties and dynamics of meron topological spin textures in the two-dimensional magnet CrCl3

Merons are nontrivial topological spin textures highly relevant for many phenomena in solid state physics. Despite their importance, direct observation of such vortex quasiparticles is scarce and has been limited to a few complex materials. Here, we show the emergence of merons and antimerons in recently discovered two-dimensional (2D) CrCl3 at zero magnetic field. We show their entire evolution from pair creation, their diffusion over metastable domain walls, and collision leading to large magnetic monodomains. Both quasiparticles are stabilized spontaneously during cooling at regions where in-plane magnetic frustration takes place. Their dynamics is determined by the interplay between the strong in-plane dipolar interactions and the weak out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy stabilising a vortex core within a radius of 8-10 nm. Our results push the boundary to what is currently known about non-trivial spin structures in 2D magnets and open exciting opportunities to control magnetic domains via topological quasiparticles.

Vortex lines in a cubic magnetic nanodot: structure and dynamics

Langevin simulations of cubic magnetic nanodots were performed using the Landau-Lifshitz equation with exchange and dipolar interactions. Vortices tend to organize as lines: we establish the structure and dynamics thereof for a large range of the dipolar versus exchange ratio d. These lines tend to be bent and twisted. For large values of the dipolar interaction, a complex network of vortex lines arises. Dynamics evidences low frequency collective gyrotropic motions of vortex lines which maintain their distance during motion.

Artificial ferroic systems: novel functionality from structure, interactions and dynamics

Lithographic processing and film growth technologies are continuing to advance, so that it is now possible to create patterned ferroic materials consisting of arrays of sub-1 μm elements with high definition. Some of the most fascinating behaviour of these arrays can be realised by exploiting interactions between the individual elements to create new functionality. The properties of these artificial ferroic systems differ strikingly from those of their constituent components, with novel emergent behaviour arising from the collective dynamics of the interacting elements, which are arranged in specific designs and can be activated by applying magnetic or electric fields. We first focus on artificial spin systems consisting of arrays of dipolar-coupled nanomagnets and, in particular, review the field of artificial spin ice, which demonstrates a wide range of fascinating phenomena arising from the frustration inherent in particular arrangements of nanomagnets, including emergent magnetic monopoles, domains of ordered macrospins, and novel avalanche behaviour. We outline how demagnetisation protocols have been employed as an effective thermal anneal in an attempt to reach the ground state, comment on phenomena that arise in thermally activated systems and discuss strategies for selectively generating specific configurations using applied magnetic fields. We then move on from slow field and temperature driven dynamics to high frequency phenomena, discussing spinwave excitations in the context of magnonic crystals constructed from arrays of patterned magnetic elements. At high frequencies, these arrays are studied in terms of potential applications including magnetic logic, linear and non-linear microwave optics, and fast, efficient switching, and we consider the possibility to create tunable magnonic crystals with artificial spin ice. Finally, we discuss how functional ferroic composites can be incorporated to realise magnetoelectric effects. Specifically, we discuss artificial multiferroics (or multiferroic composites), which hold promise for new applications that involve electric field control of magnetism, or electric and magnetic field responsive devices for high frequency integrated circuit design in microwave and terahertz signal processing. We close with comments on how enhanced functionality can be realised through engineering of nanostructures with interacting ferroic components, creating opportunities for novel spin electronic devices that, for example, make use of the transport of magnetic charges, thermally activated elements, and reprogrammable nanomagnet systems.

Coupling-induced reorientation phase transitions in ultrathin Fe/Gd films

A phenomenological explanation for the reorientation phase transitions in an Fe/Gd ultrathin film system on the basis of Landau's theory of phase transitions is proposed. We model the film as a strongly coupled bilayer-like system consisting of the surface Fe overlayers and the interfacial Gd layer(s) below them. The total free energy of the system is accordingly obtained and the relevant phases and the order of the phase transitions involved are thus determined. Qualitative accordance between the theory and experiments is obtained. An alternative mechanism is proposed that attributes primarily the observed first-order phase transition in the system to the strong coupling between the Fe and the Gd film and its induced vertical magnetization component of the latter film. Competition between the antiferromagnetic coupling and the anisotropy energy of the Fe-rich ultrathin film is responsible for the other continuous reorientation. The effects of an applied external field including several field-induced first- and second-order phase transitions are predicted for experimental verification of the theory.

Spin dynamics simulations of two-dimensional clusters with Heisenberg and dipole-dipole interactions

Spin dynamics with the Landau-Lifshitz equation has provided topics for a wealth of research endeavors. We introduce here a numerical integration method which explicitly uses the precession motion of a spin about the local field, thus intrinsically conserving spin lengths, and therefore allowing for relatively quick results for a large number of situations with varying temperatures and couplings. This method is applied to the effect of long-range dipole-dipole interactions in two-dimensional clusters of spins with nearest-neighbor XY-Heisenberg exchange interactions on a square lattice at finite temperature. The structures thus obtained are analyzed through orientational correlations functions. Magnon dispersion curves, different from those of the standard Heisenberg model, are obtained and discussed. The number of vortices in the system is discussed as a function of temperature and typical examples of vortex dynamics are shown.

Controlling double vortex states in low-dimensional dipolar systems

The reversal process of the chirality of each opposite vortex belonging to a double vortex state in ferromagnetic hysterons, via the application of in-plane magnetic fields, is reported. Simulations reveal that such a process involves the formation of four intermediate states, including original ones. Hysteresis loops can occur only in a counterclockwise fashion because of one of these intermediate states. Double vortex states can also be controlled by electric fields in ferroelectric nanostructures of different shapes, but with some key differences with respect to the ferromagnetic case.

Magnetic bubble domain phase at the spin reorientation transition of ultrathin Fe/Ni/Cu(001) film

Magnetic domain phases of ultrathin Fe/Ni/Cu(001) are studied using photoemission electron microscopy at the spin reorientation transition (SRT). We observe a new magnetic phase of bubble domains within a narrow SRT region after applying a nearly in-plane magnetic field pulse to the sample. By applying the magnetic field pulse along different directions, we find that the bubble domain phase exists only if the magnetic field direction is less than approximately 10 degrees relative to the sample surface. A temperature dependent measurement shows that the bubble domain phase becomes unstable above 370 K.

Current controlled spin reversal of nanomagnets with giant uniaxial anisotropy

Since a giant magnetic anisotropy of 9 meV per atom has been realized on a Pt surface, we use the kinetic Monte Carlo method to study the spin dynamics of a nanomagnet that is made by putting a line of such adatoms on a thin metallic strip so that the fixed spins are coupled very weakly and a spin-polarized current can be injected into the strip. There is a magnetization hysteresis versus the current because of the giant anisotropy. The hysteresis loop is diminished exponentially with the temperature increasing. The magnetization can be controlled by injecting a spin-polarized current.

Magnetic stripe domains in coupled magnetic sandwiches

Magnetic stripe domains in the spin reorientation transition region are investigated in (Fe/Ni)/Cu(001) and Co/Cu/(Fe/Ni)/Cu(001) using photoemission electron microscopy. For (Fe/Ni)/Cu(001), the stripe domain width decreases exponentially as the Fe/Ni film approaches the spin reorientation transition point. For Co/Cu/(Fe/Ni)/Cu(001), the Fe/Ni stripe orientation is aligned with the Co in-plane magnetization, and the stripe domain width decreases exponentially with increasing the interlayer coupling between the Fe/Ni and Co films. By considering magnetic stripes within an in-plane magnetic field, we reveal a universal dependence of the stripe domain width on the magnetic anisotropy and on the interlayer coupling.

Domain wall orientation in magnetic nanowires

Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals that domain walls in ultrathin Fe nanowires are oriented along a certain crystallographic direction, regardless of the orientation of the wires. Monte Carlo simulations on a discrete lattice are in accordance with the experiment if the film relaxation is taken into account. We demonstrate that the wall orientation is determined by the atomic lattice and the resulting strength of an effective exchange interaction. The magnetic anisotropy and the magnetostatic energy play a minor role for the wall orientation in that system.

Decagonal quasiferromagnetic microstructure on the penrose tiling

The stable magnetization configurations of a ferromagnet on a quasiperiodic tiling have been derived theoretically. The magnetization configuration is investigated as a function of the ratio of the exchange to the dipolar energy. The exchange coupling is assumed to decrease exponentially with the distance between magnetic moments. It is demonstrated that for a weak exchange interaction the new structure, the quasiferromagnetic decagonal configuration, corresponds to the minimum of the free energy. The decagonal state represents a new class of frustrated systems where the degenerated ground state is aperiodic and consists of two parts: ordered decagon rings and disordered spin-glass-like phase inside the decagons.