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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Performance of Nd-Fe-B Magnets Fabricated by Hot Isostatic Pressing and Low-Temperature Sintering

Magnetic properties and microstructure of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets fabricated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) were studied. For comparison, magnets were also fabricated by vacuum sintering. The density reached 7.58 g/cm{sup 3} for the magnets HIP-sintered at 1123 K. The density of the magnets vacuum-sintered at 1123 K was much lower, which is of about 6.92 g/cm{sup 3}. While the density of magnets vacuum-sintered at 1318 K was the same as the HIP-sintered magnets, the sintering temperature was significantly decreased to 1123 K. In addition, the average grain size decreased from 9 to 6 μm, which has enhanced coercivity. Therefore, the coercivity increased from 1067.7 to 1238.5 kA/m, which is 16% higher than the vacuum-sintered magnets. HIP is a promising method to obtain high density and high coercivity Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Line of magnetic monopoles and an extension of the Aharonov–Bohm effect

In the Landau problem on the two-dimensional plane, physical displacement of a charged particle (i.e., magnetic translation) can be induced by an in-plane electric field. The geometric phase accompanying such magnetic translation around a closed path differs from the topological phase of Aharonov and Bohm in two essential aspects: The particle is in direct contact with the magnetic field and the geometric phase has an opposite sign from the Aharonov–Bohm phase. We show that magnetic translation on the two-dimensional cylinder implemented by the Schrödinger time evolution truly leads to the Aharonov–Bohm effect. The magnetic field normal to the cylinder’s surface corresponds to a line of magnetic monopoles of uniform density whose simulation is currently under investigation in cold atom physics. In order to characterize the quantum problem, one needs to specify the value of the magnetic flux (modulo the flux unit) that threads but not in touch with the cylinder. A general closed path on the cylinder may enclose both the Aharonov–Bohm flux and the local magnetic field that is in direct contact with the charged particle. This suggests an extension of the Aharonov–Bohm experiment that naturally takes into account both the geometric phase due to local interaction with the magnetic field and the topological phase of Aharonov and Bohm.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type (Gd, Tb, Dy){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type (Dy, Ho){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} compounds: Crystal structure and magnetic properties

The crystal structure of new Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type (Gd, Tb, Dy){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} (Immm, No. 71, oI10) and La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type (Dy, Ho){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} (Cmce No. 64, oC20) compounds has been established using powder X-ray diffraction studies. Magnetization measurements show that the Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Gd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} undergoes a ferromagnetic transition at ~66 K, whereas isostructural Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} shows an antiferromagnetic transition at ~52 K and a field-induced metamagnetic transition at low temperatures. Neutron diffraction study shows that, in zero applied field, Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} exhibits c-axis antiferromagnetic order with propagation vector K=[1/2, 0, 1/2] below its magnetic ordering temperature and Tb magnetic moment reaches a value of 8.32(5) μ{sub B} at 2 K. The La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} exhibits ferromagnetic like transition at ~42 K with coexisting antiferromagnetic interactions and field induced metamagnetic transition below ~17 K. The magnetocaloric effect of Gd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65}, Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} is calculated in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change and it reaches a maximum value of −14.3 J/kg K, −5.3 J/kg K and −10.3 J/kg K for a field change of 50 kOe near 66 K, 52 K and 42 K, respectively. Low temperature magnetic ordering with enhanced anisotropic effects in Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} is accompanied by a positive magnetocaloric effect with isothermal magnetic entropy changes of +12.8 J/kg K and ~+9.9 J/kg K, respectively at 7 K for a field change of 50 kOe. - Graphical abstract: The (Gd, Tb, Dy){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} supplement the series of Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type rare earth compounds, whereas the (Dy, Ho){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} supplement the series of La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type rare earth compounds. The variation of alloy’s composition by ~3 at% i.e. from Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} to Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} leads to significant transformation of crystal structure of compound with different variant of distortion of Po-type rare earth sublattice, as in Gd–Co–Ga and Er–Ni–In systems: the Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Gd{sub 2}Co{sub 2}Ga and La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type Gd{sub 2}Co{sub 2.9}Ga{sub 0.1}, and Mo{sub 2}FeB{sub 2}-type Er{sub 2}Ni{sub 1.78}In and Mn{sub 2}AlB{sub 2}-type Er{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}In. Magnetization measurements indicate collinear ferromagnetic ordering of Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Gd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and a complex antiferromagnetic ordering with low-temperature metamagnetic nature for Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} compounds. However, neutron diffraction study in zero applied field of Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} reveals c-axis pure antiferromagnetic ordering of terbium sublattice with K=[1/2, 0, 1/2] propagation vector. Magnetization measurements indicate ferromagnetic order with coexisting antiferromagnetic interactions and low-temperature metamagnetic state for La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5}. We suggest possible polymorphism in other Mo{sub 2}FeB{sub 2}-type, Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type, La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type and Mn{sub 2}AlB{sub 2}-type rare earth compounds with corresponding change in their magnetic properties. - Highlights: • (Gd, Tb, Dy){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} compounds crystallize in the Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type structure. • (Dy, Ho){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} compounds crystallize in the La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type structure. • Gd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} shows pure ferromagnetic type ordering. • Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} show mixed ferro-antiferromagnetic ordering. • Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} exhibit low-temperature metamagnetic behaviour.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Big area additive manufacturing of high performance bonded NdFeB magnets

Additive manufacturing allows for the production of complex parts with minimum material waste, offering an effective technique for fabricating permanent magnets which frequently involve critical rare earth elements. In this report, we demonstrate a novel method - Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) - to fabricate isotropic near-net-shape NdFeB bonded magnets with magnetic and mechanical properties comparable or better than those of traditional injection molded magnets. The starting polymer magnet composite pellets consist of 65 vol% isotropic NdFeB powder and 35 vol% polyamide (Nylon-12). The density of the final BAAM magnet product reached 4.8 g/cm3, and the room temperature magnetic properties are: intrinsic coercivity Hci = 688.4 kA/m, remanence B r = 0.51 T, and energy product (BH) max = 43.49 kJ/m 3 (5.47 MGOe). In addition, tensile tests performed on four dog-bone shaped specimens yielded an average ultimate tensile strength of 6.60 MPa and an average failure strain of 4.18%. Scanning electron microscopy images of the fracture surfaces indicate that the failure is primarily related to the debonding of the magnetic particles from the polymer binder. As a result, the present method significantly simplifies manufacturing of near-net-shape bonded magnets, enables efficient use of rare earth elements thus contributing towards enriching the supply of critical materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Effect of magnetic islands on the localization of kinetic Alfvén wave

Recent studies have revealed an intimate link between magnetic reconnection and turbulence. Observations show that kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) play a very crucial role in magnetic reconnection and have been a topic of interest from decades in the context of turbulence and particle heating. In the present paper, we study the role that KAW plays in the formation of coherent structures/current sheets when KAW is propagating in the pre-existing fully developed chain of magnetic islands. We derived the dynamical equation of KAW in the presence of chain of magnetic islands and solved it using numerical simulations well as analytic tools. Due to pre-existing chain of magnetic islands, KAW splits into coherent structures and the scale size of these structures along transverse directions (with respect to background magnetic field) comes out to be either less than or greater than ion gyro radius. Therefore, the present work may be the first step towards understanding how magnetic reconnection generated islands may affect the KAW localization and eventually contribute to magnetic turbulence. In this way the present approach may be helpful to understand the interplay between magnetic reconnection and turbulence in ion diffusion region.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Spin-torque diode with tunable sensitivity and bandwidth by out-of-plane magnetic field

Spin-torque diodes based on nanosized magnetic tunnel junctions are novel microwave detectors with high sensitivity and wide frequency bandwidth. While previous reports mainly focus on improving the sensitivity, the approaches to extend the bandwidth are limited. This work experimentally demonstrates that through optimizing the orientation of the external magnetic field, wide bandwidth can be achieved while maintaining high sensitivity. The mechanism of the frequency- and sensitivity-tuning is investigated through analyzing the dependence of resonant frequency and DC voltage on the magnitude and the tilt angle of hard-plane magnetic field. The frequency dependence is qualitatively explicated by Kittel's ferromagnetic resonance model. The asymmetric resonant frequency at positive and negative magnetic field is verified by the numerical simulation considering the in-plane anisotropy. The DC voltage dependence is interpreted through evaluating the misalignment angle between the magnetization of the free layer and the reference layer. The tunability of the detector performance by the magnetic field angle is evaluated through characterizing the sensitivity and bandwidth under 3D magnetic field. The frequency bandwidth up to 9.8 GHz or maximum sensitivity up to 154 mV/mW (after impedance mismatch correction) can be achieved by tuning the angle of the applied magnetic field. The results show that the bandwidth and sensitivity can be controlled and adjusted through optimizing the orientation of the magnetic field for various applications and requirements.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

From solar to stellar corona: The role of wind, rotation, and magnetism

Observations of surface magnetic fields are now within reach for many stellar types thanks to the development of Zeeman–Doppler Imaging. These observations are extremely useful for constraining rotational evolution models of stars, as well as for characterizing the generation of the magnetic field. We recently demonstrated that the impact of coronal magnetic field topology on the rotational braking of a star can be parameterized with a scalar parameter: the open magnetic flux. However, without running costly numerical simulations of the stellar wind, reconstructing the coronal structure of the large-scale magnetic field is not trivial. An alternative—broadly used in solar physics—is to extrapolate the surface magnetic field assuming a potential field in the corona, to describe the opening of the field lines by the magnetized wind. This technique relies on the definition of a so-called source surface radius, which is often fixed to the canonical value of 2.5R{sub ⊙}. However this value likely varies from star to star. To resolve this issue, we use our extended set of 2.5D wind simulations published in 2015 to provide a criterion for the opening of field lines as well as a simple tool to assess the source surface radius and the open magnetic flux. This allows us to derive the magnetic torque applied to the star by the wind from any spectropolarimetric observation. We conclude by discussing some estimations of spin-down timescales made using our technique and compare them to observational requirements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Interplay of structure and magnetism in LuFe 4 ⁢Ge 2 tuned by hydrostatic pressure

Lu⁢Fe 4 ⁢Ge 2 crystallizes in the Zr⁢Fe 4 ⁢Si 2 -type structure, hosting chains of Fe tetrahedra giving rise to geometric frustration and low dimensionality. The compound orders antiferromagnetically at around 36 K accompanied by a simultaneous structural transition from a tetragonal phase to an orthorhombic phase. The hydrostatic pressure dependence of the magnetic and structural transitions is investigated using electrical transport, AC magnetic susceptibility, AC calorimetry, M⁢össbauer, muon-spin relaxation (μ⁢SR), and x-ray-diffraction measurements. External pressure suppresses the first-order transition to the antiferromagnetic phase (AFM1) around 1.8 GPa. The structural transition is largely unaffected by pressure and remains between 30 to 35 K for pressures up to 2 GPa. A second antiferromagnetic phase (AFM2) is observed at higher pressures. The transition from the paramagnetic to the AFM2 phase is of second-order nature and appears to be connected to the structural transition. The magnetic volume fraction obtained from μ⁢SR and M⁢össbauer measurements reveal that the entire sample undergoes magnetic ordering in both magnetic phases. In addition, similar low-temperature muon-precession frequencies in AFM1 and AFM2 phases point at similar ordered moments and magnetic structures in both phases. Our results further indicate enhanced magnetic fluctuations in the pressure-induced AFM2 phase. The experimental observations together with density functional theory calculations suggest that the magnetic- and structural-order parameters in Lu⁢Fe 4 ⁢Ge 2 are linked by magnetic frustration, causing the simultaneous magnetostructural transition.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Magnetic properties of a spin-orbit entangled $J_{eff}$ = $\frac{1}{2}$ honeycomb lattice

The interplay between spin-orbit coupling, anisotropic magnetic interaction, frustration-induced quantum fluctuations, and spin correlations can lead to novel quantum states with exotic excitations in rare-earth-based quantum magnets. Herein, we present the crystal structure, magnetization, electron spin resonance (ESR), specific heat, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments on the polycrystalline samples of $\mathrm{Ba_9}$$\mathrm{Yb_2}$$\mathrm{Si_6}$$\mathrm{O_{24}}$, in which $\mathrm{Yb^{3+}}$ ions form a perfect honeycomb lattice without detectable antisite disorder. The magnetization data reveal antiferromagnetically coupled spin-orbit entangled $J_{eff}$ = $\frac{1}{2}$ degrees of freedom of $\mathrm{Yb^{3+}}$ ions in the Kramers doublet state. The ESR measurements reveal that the first excited Kramers doublet is 32.3(7) meV above the ground state. The specific heat results suggest the absence of any long-range magnetic order in the measured temperature range. Furthermore, the $\mathrm{^{29}Si}$ NMR results do not indicate any signature of magnetic ordering down to 1.6 K, and the spin-lattice relaxation rate reveals the presence of a field-induced gap that is attributed to the Zeeman splitting of the Kramers doublet state in this quantum material. Here, our experiments detect neither spin freezing nor long-range magnetic ordering down to 1.6 K. The current results suggest the presence of short-range spin correlations in this spin-orbit entangled $J_{eff}$ = $\frac{1}{2}$ rare-earth magnet on a honeycomb lattice.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Synthesis and magnetic properties of the Shastry-Sutherland family R 2 Be 2 SiO 7 ( R = Nd , Sm , Gd-Yb )

Compounds forming the quasi-two-dimensional Shastry-Sutherland lattice (SSL) have attracted significant experimental and theoretical attention in the field of frustrated magnetism. This is primarily due to their realization of an exactly soluble J 1 –J 2 orthogonal dimer model capable of hosting magnetic order, dimer singlet, and plaquette singlet phases in zero applied field and their complex magnetic phase diagrams with fractional magnetization plateaus and possible superfluid and supersolid phases found between the plateau states. The discovery and characterization of SSL compounds based on rare-earth magnetic ions provide a direct route to study the stability and properties of these exotic magnetic phases in systems with a variety of different magnetic anisotropies. In this paper, we discuss the synthesis and magnetic characterization of polycrystalline samples of the R 2 ⁢Be 2 ⁢SiO 7 family, where R=Nd, Sm, and Gd-Yb. All family members crystallize in the space group $P\bar{⁢4}⁢2_1⁢m$ (113) and show no signs of long-range magnetic order above 2 K, except for R=Tb which orders antiferromagnetically at 2.6 K.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Site Mixing for Engineering Magnetic Topological Insulators

The van der Waals compound, MnBi 2 Te 4 , is the first intrinsic magnetic topological insulator, providing a materials platform for exploring exotic quantum phenomena such as the axion insulator state and the quantum anomalous Hall effect. However, intrinsic structural imperfections lead to bulk conductivity, and the roles of magnetic defects are still unknown. With higher concentrations of the same types of magnetic defects, the isostructural compound MnSb 2 Te 4 is a better model system for a systematic investigation of the connections among magnetism, topology, and lattice defects. In this work, the impact of antisite defects on the magnetism and electronic structure is studied in MnSb 2 Te 4 . Mn-Sb site mixing leads to complex magnetic structures and tunes the interlayer magnetic coupling between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic. The detailed nonstoichiometry and site mixing of MnSb2Te4 crystals depend on the growth parameters, which can lead to ≈40% of Mn sites occupied by Sb and ≈15% of Sb sites by Mn in as-grown crystals. Single-crystal neutron diffraction and electron microscopy studies show nearly random distribution of the antisite defects. Band structure calculations suggest that the Mn-Sb site mixing favors a ferromagnetic interlayer coupling, consistent with experimental observation, but is detrimental to the band inversion required for a nontrivial topology. Overall, our results suggest a long-range magnetic order of Mn ions sitting on Bi sites in MnBi 2 Te 4 . The effects of site mixing should be considered in all layered heterostructures that consist of alternating magnetic and topological layers, including the entire family of MnTe(Bi 2 Te 3 )n, its Sb analogs, and their solid solution.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Redesign of the Coils for the 60T Controlled-Waveform Magnet at NHMFL

Driven by the1.4 GW generator, the 60T Controlled Waveform (60 TCW) magnet was the most powerful controlled waveform system in the world and had always been one of most important magnets to the National High Magnetic Field (NHMFL) and high-field research community because of its following unique features: (1) quasi-static field up to 60 T with 100 ms flat-top and total pulse-length of about 2000 ms, (2) variable magnetic field waveforms such as staircase and triangle with flat-top (3) relative large bore (32 mm) and (4) very fast cooling time (20 minutes) between pulses [Boebinger, 2001], [Crooker et al. 2001]. The magnet is composed of nine concentric coils, with each coil consisting of several conductor winding layers reinforced by a high-strength metallic shell. The magnet underwent a catastrophic failure in 2000 and all the coils had to be rebuilt. In late 2014 the second magnet version failed near the mid-plane of coil 7. The simulations afterward that incident indicated that the overall strength of the coil would be increased by replacing a section of the reinforcing shell with Zylon fiber-epoxy composite. This reduces the stress and thus significantly lowers the level of plastic deformation in the windings. The role of the metal and Zylon fiber reinforcing layers in bearing the axial and radial Lorentz forces has been studied to optimize the magnet design. Here, the results of the optimization will be discussed as well as challenges that have been presented in rebuilding the individual coils of the magnet.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thermal stability of anisotropic bonded magnets prepared by additive manufacturing

Abstract In this research, anisotropic NdFeB + SmFeN hybrid and NdFeB bonded magnets are additively printed in a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) polymer binder. Printed NdFeB + SmFeN PPS bonded magnets displayed excellent magnetic properties ( B r [remanence] = 6.9 kG [0.69 T], H cj [coercivity] = 8.3 kOe [660 kA/m], and BH max [energy product] = 9.9 MGOe [79 kJ/m 3 ]) with superior corrosion resistance and thermal stability. The anisotropic NdFeB bonded magnet shows a high coercivity of 14.6 kOe (1162 kA/m) with a BH max of 8.7 MGOe (69 kJ/m 3 ). The coercivity and remanence temperature coefficients for NdFeB + SmFeN hybrid bonded magnets are −0.10%/K and −0.46%/K, and for NdFeB bonded magnets are −0.14%/K and −0.53%/K in the range of 300–400 K, indicating that the hybrid bonded magnets are thermally stable. The average flux aging loss for hybrid magnets was also determined to be very stable over 2000 h at 448 K (175°C) in air with 2.04% compared to that of NdFeB magnets with 3.62%.

thermal stability↗
DOE OSTI2019

Template Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties of Layered Nanowires

Nanowires (NWs) consisting of Ni/Cu and Co/Cu alternating layers with a diameter of 100 nm and layer thicknesses varying between 10 and 500 nm are prepared by template synthesis in pores of polymer track-etched membranes. Bath compositions and different regimes for pulsed electrodeposition of NWs are explored. A procedure for electrodeposition of NWs using pulses of equal charge is developed. By diminishing the amount of charge per pulse, initially we manage to lower the layer thickness to 10–15 nm, but further diminishing of charge in pulses leads to the blending of elemental composition of adjacent layers and/or formation of rod–shell nanostructures within the NWs. The coercive force (15–30 mT) and residual magnetization of our layered NWs are determined from magnetization measurements. For NWs with a layer thickness of 50–100 nm, the magnetization curves recorded in the out-of-plane and in-plane geometries are similar in shape and have similar parameters. For NWs with thicker layers (250 and 500 nm), magnetization curves are markedly different due to magnetic anisotropy (an easy magnetization axis emerges longitudinally to NWs) and interference between neighboring NWs. Magnetic force microscopy of isolated NWs identifies that the NWs comprise magnetic regions extending over ~100–150 nm. The NW can be partially remagnetized by applying an external magnetic field (+16 mT) longitudinally.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Temporal Stability of Magnetization of ε-In{sub 0.24}Fe{sub 1.76}O{sub 3} Nanoparticles

The kinetics of spontaneous demagnetization in nanoparticles of the exotic epsilon-phase of indium-doped iron(III) oxide (ε-In{sub 0.24}Fe{sub 1.76}O{sub 3}) has been studied using the method of accelerated testing of magnets for temporal stability in a magnetization-reversal field. Time dependences of the magnetization of nanoparticles measured in a wide range of magnetic fields exhibited rectification in semilogarithmic coordinates. The dependence of the magnetic viscosity on the magnetic field has been measured and used for determining the fluctuation field and activation volume. A relationship between the magnetic viscosity and magnetic noise caused by random thermoinduced magnetization reversal in separate nanoparticles is established.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Size limits of magnetic-domain engineering in continuous in-plane exchange-bias prototype films

Background: The application of superparamagnetic particles as biomolecular transporters in microfluidic systems for lab-on-a-chip applications crucially depends on the ability to control their motion. One approach for magnetic-particle motion control is the superposition of static magnetic stray field landscapes (MFLs) with dynamically varying external fields. These MFLs may emerge from magnetic domains engineered both in shape and in their local anisotropies. Motion control of smaller beads does necessarily need smaller magnetic patterns, i.e., MFLs varying on smaller lateral scales. The achievable size limit of engineered magnetic domains depends on the magnetic patterning method and on the magnetic anisotropies of the material system. Smallest patterns are expected to be in the range of the domain wall width of the particular material system. To explore these limits a patterning technology is needed with a spatial resolution significantly smaller than the domain wall width. Results: We demonstrate the application of a helium ion microscope with a beam diameter of 8 nm as a mask-less method for local domain patterning of magnetic thin-film systems. For a prototypical in-plane exchange-bias system the domain wall width has been investigated as a function of the angle between unidirectional anisotropy and domain wall. By shrinking the domain size of periodic domain stripes, we analyzed the influence of domain wall overlap on the domain stability. Finally, by changing the geometry of artificial two-dimensional domains, the influence of domain wall overlap and domain wall geometry on the ultimate domain size in the chosen system was analyzed. Conclusion: The application of a helium ion microscope for magnetic patterning has been shown. It allowed for exploring the fundamental limits of domain engineering in an in-plane exchange-bias thin film as a prototypical system. For two-dimensional domains the limit depends on the domain geometry. The relative orientation between domain wall and anisotropy axes is a crucial parameter and therefore influences the achievable minimum domain size dramatically.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

THE MECHANISMS OF ELECTRON ACCELERATION DURING MULTIPLE X LINE MAGNETIC RECONNECTION WITH A GUIDE FIELD

The interactions between magnetic islands are considered to play an important role in electron acceleration during magnetic reconnection. In this paper, two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are performed to study electron acceleration during multiple X line reconnection with a guide field. Because the electrons remain almost magnetized, we can analyze the contributions of the parallel electric field, Fermi, and betatron mechanisms to electron acceleration during the evolution of magnetic reconnection through comparison with a guide-center theory. The results show that with the magnetic reconnection proceeding, two magnetic islands are formed in the simulation domain. Next, the electrons are accelerated by both the parallel electric field in the vicinity of the X lines and the Fermi mechanism due to the contraction of the two magnetic islands. Then, the two magnetic islands begin to merge into one, and, in such a process, the electrons can be accelerated by both the parallel electric field and betatron mechanisms. During the betatron acceleration, the electrons are locally accelerated in the regions where the magnetic field is piled up by the high-speed flow from the X line. At last, when the coalescence of the two islands into one big island finishes, the electrons can be further accelerated by the Fermi mechanism because of the contraction of the big island. With the increase of the guide field, the contributions of the Fermi and betatron mechanisms to electron acceleration become less and less important. When the guide field is sufficiently large, the contributions of the Fermi and betatron mechanisms are almost negligible.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

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↗