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At least 37 records · Page 2

Exploring magnetic anisotropy and robustness of the J eff = 1/2 state under substantial orthorhombic distortion in Sr 2 IrO 4 thin films

Here, we present a comprehensive study revealing the intricate interplay of the magnetic anisotropy and orthorhombic distortion in thin films of Sr 2 IrO 4 through a Ca 3 Ru 2 O 7 substrate. By inducing a pronounced orthorhombic distortion along the direction of oxygen octahedral edges, we effectively modulated the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in the system. Remarkably divergent responses along the easy and hard magnetic axes were unveiled through x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements under magnetic fields. Specifically, the spin flop transition observed when the magnetic field aligns with the hard axis allows us to estimate the magnetic anisotropy energy, which is around 14.2 µeV, close to that estimated from the single magnon peak measured via Raman spectroscopy. The observed anisotropy energy remains notably lower than the linear estimates derived from the strain-anisotropy energy relationship outlined in H.-H. Kim et al., Nat. Commun. 13, 6674 (2022). This underscores the enduring preservation of the isotropic character of the J eff = 1/2 states. This is also supported by the negligible XMCD intensity ratio at the L 2 edge compared to that of the L 3 edge. Furthermore, the branching ratio determined from x-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that the expectation value of the spin-orbit coupling is similar to that of bulk Sr 2 IrO 4 single crystals. Our findings indicate that even under a substantial anisotropic biaxial distortion, Sr 2 IrO 4 remains remarkably proximate to the J eff = 1/2 state. This study not only provides valuable information in understanding the interplay between magnetic anisotropy and strain but also the robustness of the J eff = 1/2 state under octahedral distortion within materials exhibiting emergent quantum phenomena.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetic anisotropy in ferromagnetic CrI 3

We use neutron scattering to show that ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition in the two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb lattice CrI 3 is a weakly first order transition and controlled by spin-orbit coupling (SOC) induced magnetic anisotropy, instead of magnetic exchange coupling as in a conventional ferromagnet. With increasing temperature, the magnitude of magnetic anisotropy, seen as a spin gap at the Brillouin zone center, decreases in a power law fashion and vanishes at T C , while the in-plane and c-axis spin-wave stiffnesses associated with magnetic exchange couplings remain robust at T C . We also compare parameter regimes where spin waves in CrI 3 can be described by a Heisenberg Hamiltonian with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction or a Heisenberg-Kitaev Hamiltonian. These results suggest that the SOC induced magnetic anisotropy plays a dominant role in stabilizing the FM order in single layer 2D van der Waals ferromagnets.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Spin wave theory for the triaxial magnetic anisotropy 2D van der Waals antiferromagnet CrSBr

The magnetic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials have been attracting increasing attention in recent years due to their unique behavior and possible applications in new devices. One material of great interest is the 2D van der Waals (vdW) crystal CrSBr, which exhibits antiferromagnetic (AF) order at low temperatures due to an interlayer AF exchange interaction. Here, we present a full quantum spin-wave theory for vdW crystals considering one interlayer and three intralayer exchange interactions, and triaxial magnetic anisotropy. The fits of the theoretical results to antiferromagnetic resonance measurements and inelastic neutron scattering data in CrSBr yield reliable values for the seven interaction parameters that can be used to calculate other properties of this interesting material.

2D materials↗

Achieving uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in Ce2⁢Fe17⁢N3 through Co- and Sm-substitution

Th2⁢Zn17−type structure-based permanent magnets, such as Sm2⁢Fe17⁢N3, offer strong potential as alternatives to neodymium magnets (NdFeB), but their practical use is limited by phase stability and the scarcity of Sm. Ce-based counterparts, particularly Ce2⁢Fe17⁢N3, are attractive low-cost candidates, yet their intrinsic planar magnetic anisotropy restricts permanent-magnet performance. Here, we induce uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in Ce2⁢Fe17⁢N3 through two approaches: (i) Co substitution on the Fe sublattice and (ii) partial substitution of Ce with Sm. Combined density functional theory and experimental results show that both strategies modify the 3⁢𝑑–4⁢𝑓 interactions and band filling, yielding magnetization values up to ∼1.2T and magnetocrystalline anisotropy energies exceeding 1MJ/m3 for Co-alloyed compositions, with significantly larger anisotropy achieved upon Sm substitution. In addition, the Sm-substituted Ce2⁢Fe17⁢N3 samples exhibit enhanced high-temperature stability compared to Sm2⁢Fe17⁢N3. These findings demonstrate that Ce2⁢Fe17⁢N3-based alloys can deliver magnetic performance suitable for permanent-magnet applications while reducing cost and reliance on critical rare-earth elements, and they provide practical design guidelines for rare-earth-lean magnets for energy and industrial applications.

Pokhrel, Nabaraj [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000328283076)↗

Voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy enabled by resistive switching

The discovery of new mechanisms of controlling magnetic properties by electric fields or currents furthers the fundamental understanding of magnetism and has important implications for practical use. Here, we present an approach of utilizing resistive switching to control magnetic anisotropy. We study a ferromagnetic oxide that exhibits an electrically triggered metal-to-insulator phase transition producing a volatile resistive switching. The switching occurs in a characteristic spatial pattern, the formation of an insulating barrier perpendicular to the current flow, which results in an unusual ferromagnetic/paramagnetic/ferromagnetic configuration. Further, the formation of this voltage-driven paramagnetic insulating barrier is accompanied by the emergence of a strong uniaxial magnetic anisotropy that overpowers the intrinsic material anisotropy. Our results demonstrate that resistive switching is an effective tool for manipulating magnetic properties. Because resistive switching can be induced in a broad range of materials, our findings could enable a new class of voltage-controlled magnetism systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Correlation-driven eightfold magnetic anisotropy in a two-dimensional oxide monolayer

Engineering magnetic anisotropy in two-dimensional systems has enormous scientific and technological implications. The uniaxial anisotropy universally exhibited by two-dimensional magnets has only two stable spin directions, demanding 180° spin switching between states. We demonstrate a previously unobserved eightfold anisotropy in magnetic SrRuO 3 monolayers by inducing a spin reorientation in (SrRuO 3 ) 1 /(SrTiO 3 ) N superlattices, in which the magnetic easy axis of Ru spins is transformed from uniaxial $\langle 001 \rangle$ direction ( N < 3) to eightfold $\langle 111 \rangle$ directions ( N ≥ 3). This eightfold anisotropy enables 71° and 109° spin switching in SrRuO 3 monolayers, analogous to 71° and 109° polarization switching in ferroelectric BiFeO 3 . First-principle calculations reveal that increasing the SrTiO 3 layer thickness induces an emergent correlation-driven orbital ordering, tuning spin-orbit interactions and reorienting the SrRuO 3 monolayer easy axis. Our work demonstrates that correlation effects can be exploited to substantially change spin-orbit interactions, stabilizing unprecedented properties in two-dimensional magnets and opening rich opportunities for low-power, multistate device applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Magnetic Anisotropy and Stress Dependent Epoxy Wetting in FeNi-based Metal Amorphous Nanocomposite

Recently developed FeNi-based metal amorphous nanocomposites (MANCs) used in high-speed motors (HSMs) exhibit reduced eddy current losses while maintaining good mechanical properties and glass-forming abilities. Magnetic anisotropy in (Fe 70 Ni 30 ) 80 Nb 4 B 14 Si 2 amorphous magnetic ribbon (AMR) in the as-cast state and upon conventional (T CA ) and strain (T SA ) annealing heat treatment is investigated. From ribbon samples in as-cast condition, quenched in stress from planar flow casting (PFC) induced as-cast curvature derived uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Stress relief by conventional furnace annealing at T CA > 350 °C achieved isotropic properties in the bulk. Annealing about the primary crystallization temperature, T CA ~ 450 °C, resulted in the formation of both FCC and BCC nanocrystallites and evolution to isotropic bulk magnetic properties confirming the random anisotropy model. In samples strain annealed at T SA = 440 °C at various tensions, relatively large controlled induced uniaxial anisotropy is achieved. The largest magnetic anisotropy occurs in annealing under the stress of 250 MPa yielding an anisotropy field of 7.1 x 10 4 A/m. Surface anisotropy observed by MOKE differs from bulk anisotropy due to image contrast from closure domains. Epoxy coatings are important for improved bonding, mechanical properties, and resistivity in tape-wound MANC cores for HSMs. Using a sessile droplet method, the equilibrium contact angle of an epoxy droplet on a tensile stress annealed MANC exhibits stress dependent surface energies. Anisotropic wetting in FeNi-based MANC heat treated at T CA = 440 °C mimics surface magnetic anisotropy observed by MOKE.

soft magnetic materials↗

Anomalous Hall effect and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in ultrathin ferrimagnetic NiCo2O4 films

The inverse spinel ferrimagnetic NiCo2O4 possesses high magnetic Curie temperature TC, high spin polarization, and strain-tunable magnetic anisotropy. Understanding the thickness scaling limit of these intriguing magnetic properties in NiCo2O4 thin films is critical for their implementation in nanoscale spintronic applications. In this work, we report the unconventional magnetotransport properties of epitaxial (001) NiCo2O4 films on MgAl2O4 substrates in the ultrathin limit. Anomalous Hall effect measurements reveal strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy for films down to 1.5 unit cell (1.2 nm), while TC for 3 unit cell and thicker films remains above 300 K. The sign change in the anomalous Hall conductivity (σxy) and its scaling relation with the longitudinal conductivity (σxx) can be attributed to the competing effects between impurity scattering and band intrinsic Berry curvature, with the latter vanishing upon the thickness driven metal–insulator transition. Our study reveals the critical role of film thickness in tuning the relative strength of charge correlation, Berry phase effect, spin–orbit interaction, and impurity scattering, providing important material information for designing scalable epitaxial magnetic tunnel junctions and sensing devices using NiCo2O4.

Chen, Xuegang↗

Magnetic anisotropy in two-orbital models

Motivated by the recent first-principle discovery of giant perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in Fe/III–V nitride thin films, we theoretically study magnetic crystalline anisotropy(MCA) in a series of lattices with trigonal symmetry. Due to the trigonal crystal field, MCA in these lattices is dominated by first-order perturbation of the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) in the atomic limit, instead of second-order in conventional transition metal materials. In particular, the proportionality between MCA and SOC is robust in Kagome and pyrochlore lattices due to the flat bands therein. While in triangle lattice the second-order relation is restored under the bandwidth effect. Furthermore, these findings give rise to a new understanding of magnetic anisotropy and provide a guide for the future hunting of high PMA materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Enhancing stability, magnetic anisotropy, and coercivity of manganese aluminum: Machine learning, ab initio , and micromagnetic modeling

The binary manganese aluminum (MnAl) alloy with L⁢1 0 crystal structure is a promising rare earth (RE) element-free permanent magnetic material because of its exceptional magnetic properties. However, experimentally synthesizing it in a stable bulk form is extremely challenging. Here, in this study, an alternative method of stabilizing the material, a pathway for experimental synthesis and validation, is proposed and theoretically verified. This is done by partially substituting Mn and Al sites with Fe and Ni and identifying its enhanced phase stability, saturation magnetization density, magnetic anisotropy, and coercivity from density functional theory (DFT), machine learning (ML) crystal graph convolution neural network (CGCNN), and micro-magnetic modeling. When considering a fixed 50% Ni, the magnetic anisotropy increases with the increasing Fe content but decreases the formation energy. The calculated formation energies, elastic constants, and phonon frequencies demonstrate that the binary and quaternary compositions are stable. Most importantly, in 50% Fe and Ni-substituted-equiatomic phase, magnetic anisotropy constants and saturation magnetization density increase by 56% and 23% as compared to the MnAl. Further, the coercivity of the equiatomic phase predicted with micro-magnetic modeling is higher by 17% than the parent compound.

Bhandari, Churna [Ames National Laboratory, and Io↗

Magnetic anisotropy and spin dynamics in the kagome magnet Fe 4 Si 2 Sn 7 O 16 : NMR and magnetic susceptibility study on oriented powder

Fe 4 Si 2 Sn 7 O 16 hosts an undistorted kagome lattice of Fe 2+ (3d 6 , S = 2) ions. We present results of bulk magnetization and Sn nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on an oriented Fe 4 Si 2 Sn 7 O 16 powder sample oriented in geometries parallel (∥) and perpendicular (⊥) to the external applied magnetic field used for orienting the powder (Bori). The bulk susceptibility χ shows a broad peak at T N ~ 3 K associated with antiferromagnetic ordering. NMR spectra indicate the presence of planar anisotropy in the kagome planes. From an analysis of the static NMR shift (K) and dynamic spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T 1 ) we conclude the presence of dominant magnetic fluctuations in the kagome planes. For the ∥ orientation, K scales linearly with the bulk susceptibility for temperatures down to ~ 4 K, while in the ⊥ orientation K starts to deviate strongly below T ~ 30 K. We associate this deviation with the onset of spin-tilting towards the kagome planes. These correlations are also reflected in the 1/T 1 data for the ∥ orientation, which starts to decrease below T ~ 30 K. Here, in this correlated regime, T N < T < ~ 30 K, we discuss the formation of positive chiral spin correlations in the kagome planes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Local control of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Pd/Co multilayers via ion bombardment

In this work, we have controlled locally the magnetic anisotropy of PdCo multilayers using ion beam modification. First, we have used techniques with different probing depths to confirm that cobalt is partially oxidized in the Pd/Co multilayers exhibiting PMA fabricated by sputtering, presumably due to the diffusion of atmospheric oxygen migrated through the Pd capping layer. Then, low energy ion bombardment has been employed to induce a structural disorder in the upper layers of the multilayer, gradually reducing the PMA at local scale with increasing ion doses. Medium ion doses lead to a marked decline in PMA, resulting in equivalent magnetic anisotropy directions and the loss of characteristic labyrinthine magnetic domain morphology. High ion doses completely suppress PMA, yielding a typical in-plane shape anisotropy. Furthermore, by combining controlled PMA reduction via lithographic techniques, we create elongated structures displaying distinct magnetic responses; bombarded regions exhibit reduced PMA, whereas adjacent regions maintain their PMA. Notably, regions with reduced PMA do not disrupt the distribution of perpendicular magnetic domains in neighboring PMA regions, even at widths as narrow as 500 nm, demonstrating the robustness of the PMA domain structure.

Sebastiani-Tofano, Eugenia [Universidad Complutens↗

Crystal orientation dependence of interfacial magnetic anisotropy at heavy-metal/magnetic-garnet interfaces

Ferrimagnetic insulators capped with a heavy metal are becoming an increasingly interesting materials system in spintronics due to their unique ability for electrical manipulation and detection of magnetic states and spin textures via spin-orbit torques. The ability to engineer magnetic anisotropy is a powerful tool for tuning the recently discovered phenomena in these bilayers such as electrical switching or the stabilization of topological magnetic textures. Here, we observe large shifts in the magnetic anisotropy in Tm 3 Fe 5 O 13 and Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 thin films due to heavy-metal capping layers, which strongly depends on the orientation of the substrate and therefore the orientation of the epitaxial films. This work suggests large Rashba spin-orbit coupling at the metal/ferrimagneticinsulator interface, which can be engineered in spintronic devices that utilize spin-orbit torques for electrical control of the magnetization in magnetic insulators.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Measurement of the magnetic anisotropy energy constants for magneto-optical recording media

Measurement of the magneto-optical polar Kerr effect is performed on rare earth-transition metal (RE-TM) amorphous films using in-plane fields. From this measurement and the measurement of the saturation magnetization using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), the magnetic anisotropy constants are determined. The temperature dependence is presented of the magnetic anisotropy in the range of -175 to 175 C. The results show a dip in the anisotropy near magnetic compensation. This anomaly is explained based on the finite exchange coupling between the rare earth and transition metal subnetworks.

Hajjar, R. A.↗