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Results for “MAGNETIC SWITCHING”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Exchange coupling in metallic multilayers with a top FeRh layer

We study magnetic properties of metallic multilayers with FeRh/ferromagnet interfaces grown by low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy. Room-temperature coercivity of the ferromagnetic layers is significantly enhanced after the growth of FeRh, proving the existence of the exchange coupling between the antiferromagnetic FeRh layer and the ferromagnetic layer. However, exchange bias is not clearly observed probably due to the presence of disordered structures, which result from the lattice strain at the FeRh/ferromagnet interfaces due to the lattice mismatch. We infer that the lattice matched interface between FeRh and ferromagnetic layers is a key parameter for controlling magnetic switching fields in such multilayer systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Enhancement of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and spin-orbit torque in Ta/Pt/Co/Ta multi-layered heterostructures through interfacial diffusion

Heavy metal/ferromagnetic metal bi-layered structures that exhibit both strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and large spin-orbit torque (SOT) efficiency have high potential in high-density, low-power memory, and logic device applications. Here, we report the enhancement of PMA and SOT in Ta/Pt/Co/Ta multi-layered heterostructures through interfacial diffusion. The structures can exhibit PMA fields of 9100 Oe at 300 K and 14100 Oe at 10 K and an effective spin Hall angle (SHA) of 0.61 ± 0.03 at 300 K. These values are larger than the corresponding values reported previously for similar heterostructures. The current-induced magnetization switching was demonstrated. The critical switching current density is on the order of 10 6 A/cm 2 , and the corresponding switching efficiency is higher than that reported for similar structures. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy analyses suggest a strong correlation between the observed PMA and SOT enhancement and the interfacial diffusion during the sputtering growth of the samples. It is very likely that the interfacial diffusion gives rise to enhanced spin-orbit coupling at the interface, while the latter results in enhancement in the PMA, SHA, and switching efficiency in the structure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Design of a One-Dimensional Stacked Spin Peierls System with Room-Temperature Switching from Quantum Mechanical Predictions

Planar bis-1,2-dithiolene complex anions of a transition metal (denoted as [M(dithiolato) 2 ]- and M = Ni, Pd, or Pt ion) favor forming columnar stacks of anions in the crystal that feature S = 1/2 spin-chains, and such a spin-chain compound often undergoes a spin-Peierls-type transition, making this a promising material for conducting and magnetic switching. However, current examples show the transition temperatures are far too low for most applications. Furthermore, we use quantum mechanics to predict that changing the cation arrangement from the boat-type to the chair-type packing configuration in a spin-Peierls-type [Ni(dithiolato) 2 ]- complex will substantially stabilize the antiferromagnetic coupling, dramatically increasing the transition temperature. We estimate that the [Ni(mnt)2]-based complexes (mnt = maleonitriledithiolate) with chair-type packing of cations will lead to critical temperatures of ~170, ~252, and ~310 K for S-, Se-, and Te-based mnt, respectively. We also suggest how to stabilize the chair-type configurations of these systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Current-driven spin orbit field in LaAlO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} heterostructures

We demonstrate a current tunable Rashba spin orbit interaction in LaAlO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} (LAO/STO) quasi two dimensional electron gas system. Anisotropic magnetoresistance measurements are employed to detect and understand the current-induced Rashba field. The effective Rashba field scales with the current and a value of 2.35 T is observed for a dc-current of 200 μA. The results suggest that LAO/STO heterostructures can be considered for spin orbit torque based magnetization switching.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS2003

Power Electronics Being Developed for Deep Space Cryogenic Applications

Electronic circuits and systems designed for deep space missions need to operate reliably and efficiently in harsh environments that include very low temperatures. Spacecraft that operate in such cold environments carry a large number of heaters so that the ambient temperature for the onboard electronics remains near 20 C. Electronics that can operate at cryogenic temperatures will simplify system design and reduce system size and weight by eliminating the heaters and their associated structures. As a result, system development and launch cost will be reduced. At the NASA Glenn Research Center, an ongoing program is focusing on the development of power electronics geared for deep space low-temperature environments. The research and development efforts include electrical components design, circuit design and construction, and system integration and demonstration at cryogenic temperatures. Investigations are being carried out on circuits and systems that are targeted for use in NASA missions where low temperatures will be encountered: devices such as ceramic and tantalum capacitors, metal film resistors, semiconductor switches, magnetics, and integrated circuits including dc/dc converters, operational amplifiers, voltage references, and motor controllers. Test activities cover a wide range of device and circuit performance under simple as well as complex test conditions, such as multistress and thermal cycling. The effect of low-temperature conditions on the switching characteristics of an advanced silicon-on-insulator field effect transistor is shown. For gate voltages (VGS) below 2.6 V, drain currents at -190 C are lower than drain currents at room temperature (20 C).

Patterson, Richard L.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Metal Amorphous Nanocomposite Soft Magnetic Material-Enabled High Power Density, Rare Earth Free Rotational Machines [Metal Amorphous Nanocomposite (MANC) Soft Magnetic Material (SMM) Enabled High Power Density, Rare Earth Free Rotational Machines]

Metal amorphous nanocomposites (MANCs) are promising soft magnetic materials (SMMs) for power electronic applications offering low power loss at high frequency and maintaining a relatively high flux density. While applications in certain motor designs have been recently modeled, their widespread application awaits scaled manufacturing of MANC materials and proliferation of new higher speed motor designs. A hybrid motor design based on permanent magnets and doubly salient stator and rotor is reported here to develop a compact (a factor of 10 smaller than currently possible in Si steels), high-speed (>1 kHz, electrical), high-power (>2.5 kW) motor by incorporating low loss (<10 W/kg at 1 kHz) MANCs such as recently reported Fe-Ni-based alloys. A feature of this motor design is flux focusing from the permanent magnet allowing use of lower energy permanent magnet chosen from among non-rare earth containing compositions and attractive due to constraints posed by rare earth criticality. A 2-D finite element analysis model reported here indicates that a 2.5 kW hybrid motor may be built with a permanent magnet with a 0.4 T remanence at a rotor speed of 6000 rpm. At a magnetic switching frequency of 1.4 kHz, the core loss may be limited to <3 W by selecting an appropriate MANC SMM. The projected efficiency exceeds 96% not including power loss in the controller. Under full load conditions, the flux density distributions for the SMM stay predominantly <1.3 T, the saturation magnetization of optimized FeNi-based MANC alloys. As a result, the maximum demagnetizing field in the permanent magnet is less than 2.2 × 10 5 A/m sustainable, for example, with a high-grade hard ferrite magnet.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2014

Strain-assisted current-induced magnetization reversal in magnetic tunnel junctions: A micromagnetic study with phase-field microelasticity

Effect of substrate misfit strain on current-induced in-plane magnetization reversal in CoFeB-MgO based magnetic tunnel junctions is investigated by combining micromagnetic simulations with phase-field microelasticity theory. It is found that the critical current density for in-plane magnetization reversal decreases dramatically with an increasing substrate strain, since the effective elastic field can drag the magnetization to one of the four in-plane diagonal directions. A potential strain-assisted multilevel bit spin transfer magnetization switching device using substrate misfit strain is also proposed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Evidence for spin swapping in an antiferromagnet

Antiferromagnetic insulators offer strategic advantages in spintronic applications because of their negligible stray fields and ultrafast magnetic dynamics. Control of their magnetization and readout of their magnetic state are essential for these applications but remain challenging. In this work, we report the electrical detection of room-temperature magnetization switching in the canted antiferromagnetic insulator LaFeO 3 , capped with a Pt or W overlayer. The observation of a large magneto-thermovoltage with an in-plane temperature gradient suggests that the mechanism is the swapping of spin currents in the antiferromagnet. This effect provides a sensitive electrical probe of the tiny net magnetization in the insulator, which can be manipulated by a magnetic field on the order of 10 mT. Our results highlight a new material class of insulating canted antiferromagnets for spintronics and spin caloritronics and suggests a method for the electrical readout of magnetic signals in an antiferromagnetic insulator. Electrical readout of the state of an antiferromagnet is an important goal for spintronic applications. Now, detection of the electrical voltage created by a thermal gradient in a canted antiferromagnet suggests a route for achieving this goal.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2016

Hf thickness dependence of spin-orbit torques in Hf/CoFeB/MgO heterostructures

We have studied the spin-orbit torques in perpendicularly magnetized Hf/CoFeB/MgO system, by systematically varying the thickness of Hf underlayer. We have observed a sign change of effective fields between Hf thicknesses of 1.75 and 2 nm, indicating that competing mechanisms, such as the Rashba and spin Hall effects, contribute to spin-orbit torques in our system. For larger Hf thicknesses (>2 nm), both the components of spin-orbit torques arise predominantly from the bulk spin Hall effect. We have also confirmed these results using spin-orbit torque induced magnetization switching measurements. Our results could be helpful in designing Hf based SOT devices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Effective anisotropy due to the surface of magnetic nanoparticles

Analytical solution has been discovered for the second-order effective anisotropy of magnetic nanoparticles of a cubic shape due to the surface anisotropy (SA) of the Néel type. Similarly to the spherical particles, for the simple cubic lattice the grand-diagonal directions (±1,±1,±1) are favored by the effective cubic anisotropy but the effect is twice as strong. Uniaxial core anisotropy and applied magnetic field cause screening of perturbations from the surface at the distance of the domain-wall width and reduce the effect of SA near the energy minima. Yet, screening disappears near the uniaxial energy barrier, and the uniform barrier state of larger particles may become unstable. For these effects the analytical solution is obtained as well, and the limits of the additive formula with the uniaxial and effective cubic anisotropies for the particle are established. Thermally-activated magnetization-switching rates have been computed by the pulse-noise technique for the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz equation for a system of spins.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Interposed pulsed power system for fast separation of radioactive beams

This paper presents the novel design of an interposed pulsed power system, developed to drive a fast-switching magnet with a large multi-mH load inductance, and high field amplitude (> 1 T). This modulator can produce variable flat-top pulses from 1 to 30 ms with rise and fall times of less than 0.5 ms at a variable duty cycle of 3–91% into a heavily inductive load. The system employs a novel over-voltage topology to overcome the inherent inductance and achieve the fast rise and fall times, switching to a precision DC supply to efficiently maintain the flattop without requiring many-kV voltage. We present a power source design consideration, including the results of computer modeling as well as the first experimental results of a modulator scaled test model will also be presented.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantum Sensing and Imaging of Spin–Orbit-Torque-Driven Spin Dynamics in the Non-Collinear Antiferromagnet Mn 3 Sn

Novel non-collinear antiferromagnets with spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking, non-trivial band topology, and unconventional transport properties have received immense research interest over the past decade due to their rich physics and enormous promise in technological applications. One of the central focuses in this emerging field is exploring the relationship between the microscopic magnetic structure and exotic material properties. Nanoscale imaging of both spin–orbit-torque-induced deterministic magnetic switching and chiral spin rotation in non-collinear antiferromagnet Mn 3 Sn films using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are reported. Direct evidence of the off-resonance dipole–dipole coupling between the spin dynamics in Mn 3 Sn and proximate NV centers is also demonstrated by NV relaxometry measurements. These results demonstrate the unique capabilities of NV centers in accessing the local information of the magnetic order and dynamics in these emergent quantum materials and suggest new opportunities for investigating the interplay between topology and magnetism in a broad range of topological magnets.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Large voltage-induced modification of spin-orbit torques in Pt/Co/GdOx

We report on large modifications of current-induced spin-orbit torques in a gated Pt/Co/Gd-oxide microstrip due to voltage-driven O{sup 2−} migration. The Slonczewski-like and field-like torques are quantified using a low-frequency harmonic technique based on the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect. Voltage-induced oxidation of Co enhances the Slonczewski-like torque by as much as an order of magnitude and simultaneously reduces the anisotropy energy barrier by a factor of ∼5. Such magneto-ionic tuning of interfacial spin-orbit effects may significantly enhance the efficiency of magnetization switching and provide additional degrees of freedom in spintronic devices.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Dynamic response in a finite size composite multiferroic thin film

Composite multiferroics, heterostructures of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials, are characterized by a remarkable magnetoelectric effect at the interface. Previous work has supported the ferromagnetic structure with magnetic spins and the ferroelectric with pseudospins which act as electric dipoles in a microscopic model, coupled with a magnetoelectric interaction [Wang and Grimson, J. Appl. Phys. 118, 124109 (2015)]. In this work, by solving the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation, the electric-field-induced magnetization switching in a twisted boundary condition has been studied, and a behavior of domain wall in the ferromagnetic structure is discussed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Effective field model of roughness in magnetic nano-structures

An effective field model is introduced here within the micromagnetics formulation, to study roughness in magnetic structures, by considering sub-exchange length roughness levels as a perturbation on a smooth structure. This allows the roughness contribution to be separated, which is found to give rise to an effective configurational anisotropy for both edge and surface roughness, and accurately model its effects with fine control over the roughness depth without the explicit need to refine the computational cell size to accommodate the roughness profile. The model is validated by comparisons with directly roughened structures for a series of magnetization switching and domain wall velocity simulations and found to be in excellent agreement for roughness levels up to the exchange length. The model is further applied to vortex domain wall velocity simulations with surface roughness, which is shown to significantly modify domain wall movement and result in dynamic pinning and stochastic creep effects.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Interfacial Spin-Orbit Coupling: A Platform for Superconducting Spintronics

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is a key interaction in spintronics, allowing electrical control of spin or magnetization and, vice versa, magnetic control of electrical current. However, recent advances have revealed much broader implications of SOC that is also central to the design of topological states with potential applications from low-energy dissipation and faster magnetization switching to high tolerance of disorder. SOC and the resulting emergent interfacial spin-orbit fields are simply realized in junctions through structural inversion asymmetry, while the anisotropy in magnetoresistance (MR) allows their experimental detection. Surprisingly, we demonstrate that an all-epitaxial ferromagnet/MgO/metal junction with a single ferromagnetic region and only negligible MR anisotropy undergoes a remarkable transformation below the superconducting transition temperature of the metal. The superconducting junction has a MR anisotropy 3 orders of magnitude higher and could enable novel applications in superconducting spintronics. In contrast to common realizations of MR effects that require a finite applied magnetic field, our system is designed to have two stable zero-field states with mutually orthogonal magnetizations: in plane and out of plane. This bistable magnetic anisotropy allows us to rule out orbital and vortex effects due to an applied magnetic field and identify the SOC origin of the observed MR. Such MR reaches approximately 20% without an applied magnetic field and could be further increased for large magnetic fields that support vortices. Our findings call for a revisit of the role of SOC, even when it seems negligible in the normal state, and suggest an alternative platform for superconducting spintronics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

ZrTe2/CrTe2: an epitaxial van der Waals platform for spintronics

Abstract The rapid discovery of two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) quantum materials has led to heterostructures that integrate diverse quantum functionalities such as topological phases, magnetism, and superconductivity. In this context, the epitaxial synthesis of vdW heterostructures with well-controlled interfaces is an attractive route towards wafer-scale platforms for systematically exploring fundamental properties and fashioning proof-of-concept devices. Here, we use molecular beam epitaxy to synthesize a vdW heterostructure that interfaces two material systems of contemporary interest: a 2D ferromagnet (1T-CrTe 2 ) and a topological semimetal (ZrTe 2 ). We find that one unit-cell (u.c.) thick 1T-CrTe 2 grown epitaxially on ZrTe 2 is a 2D ferromagnet with a clear anomalous Hall effect. In thicker samples (12 u.c. thick CrTe 2 ), the anomalous Hall effect has characteristics that may arise from real-space Berry curvature. Finally, in ultrathin CrTe 2 (3 u.c. thickness), we demonstrate current-driven magnetization switching in a full vdW topological semimetal/2D ferromagnet heterostructure device.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Elastic colloidal monopoles and reconfigurable self-assembly in liquid crystals

Monopole-like electrostatic interactions are ubiquitous in condensed matter, but they are often screened by counter-ions and cannot be switched from attractive to repulsive. In colloidal science, where the main goal is to develop colloidal particles that mimic and exceed the diversity and length scales of atomic and molecular assembly, electrostatically charged particles cannot change the sign of their surface charge or transform from monopoles to higher-order multipoles. In liquid-crystal colloids, elastic interactions between particles arise to minimize the free energy associated with elastic distortions in the long-range alignment of rod-like molecules around the particles. In dipolar quadrupolar and hexadecapolar nematic colloids, the symmetries of such elastic distortions mimic both electrostatic multipoles and the outermost occupied electron shells of atoms. Electric and magnetic switching, spontaneous transformations and optical control of elastic multipoles, as well as their interactions with topological defects and surface boundary conditions, have been demonstrated in such colloids. However, it has long been understood that elastic monopoles should relax to uniform or higher-order multipole states because of the elastic torques that they induce. We develop nematic colloids with strong elastic monopole moments and with elastic torques balanced by the optical torques induced by ambient light. We demonstrate the monopole-to-quadrupole reconfiguration of these colloidal particles by unstructured light, which resembles the driving of atoms between the ground state and various excited states. We show that the sign of the elastic monopoles can be switched, and that like-charged monopoles attract whereas oppositely charged ones repel, unlike in electrostatics. We also demonstrate the out-of-equilibrium dynamic assembly of these colloidal particles. This diverse and surprising behaviour is explained using a model that considers the balance of the optical and elastic torques that are responsible for the excited-state elastic monopoles and may lead to light-powered active-matter systems and self-assembled nanomachines.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗