Altermagnetism imaged and controlled down to the nanoscale

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Hauptverfasser: Amin, O. J., Din, A. Dal, Golias, E., Niu, Y., Zakharov, A., Fromage, S. C., Fields, C. J. B., Heywood, S. L., Cousins, R. B., Krempasky, J., Dil, J. H., Kriegner, D., Kiraly, B., Campion, R. P., Rushforth, A. W., Edmonds, K. W., Dhesi, S. S., Šmejkal, L., Jungwirth, T., Wadley, P.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Amin, O. J.
Din, A. Dal
Golias, E.
Niu, Y.
Zakharov, A.
Fromage, S. C.
Fields, C. J. B.
Heywood, S. L.
Cousins, R. B.
Krempasky, J.
Dil, J. H.
Kriegner, D.
Kiraly, B.
Campion, R. P.
Rushforth, A. W.
Edmonds, K. W.
Dhesi, S. S.
Šmejkal, L.
Jungwirth, T.
Wadley, P.
author_facet Amin, O. J.
Din, A. Dal
Golias, E.
Niu, Y.
Zakharov, A.
Fromage, S. C.
Fields, C. J. B.
Heywood, S. L.
Cousins, R. B.
Krempasky, J.
Dil, J. H.
Kriegner, D.
Kiraly, B.
Campion, R. P.
Rushforth, A. W.
Edmonds, K. W.
Dhesi, S. S.
Šmejkal, L.
Jungwirth, T.
Wadley, P.
contents Nanoscale detection and control of the magnetic order underpins a broad spectrum of fundamental research and practical device applications. The key principle involved is the breaking of time-reversal ($\cal{T}$) symmetry, which in ferromagnets is generated by an internal magnetization. However, the presence of a net-magnetization also imposes severe limitations on compatibility with other prominent phases ranging from superconductors to topological insulators, as well as on spintronic device scalability. Recently, altermagnetism has been proposed as a solution to this restriction, since it shares the enabling $\cal{T}$-symmetry breaking characteristic of ferromagnetism, combined with the antiferromagnetic-like vanishing net-magnetization. To date, altermagnetic ordering has been inferred from spatially averaged probes. Here, we demonstrate nanoscale imaging and control of altermagnetic ordering ranging from nanoscale vortices to domain walls to microscale single-domain states in MnTe. We combine the $\cal{T}$-symmetry breaking sensitivity of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism with magnetic linear dichroism and photoemission electron microscopy, to achieve detailed imaging of the local altermagnetic ordering vector. A rich variety of spin configurations can be imposed using microstructure patterning or thermal cycling in magnetic fields. The demonstrated detection and control of altermagnetism paves the way for future research ranging from ultra-scalable digital and neuromorphic spintronic devices, to the interplay of altermagnetism with non-dissipative superconducting or topological phases.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_02409
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Altermagnetism imaged and controlled down to the nanoscale
Amin, O. J.
Din, A. Dal
Golias, E.
Niu, Y.
Zakharov, A.
Fromage, S. C.
Fields, C. J. B.
Heywood, S. L.
Cousins, R. B.
Krempasky, J.
Dil, J. H.
Kriegner, D.
Kiraly, B.
Campion, R. P.
Rushforth, A. W.
Edmonds, K. W.
Dhesi, S. S.
Šmejkal, L.
Jungwirth, T.
Wadley, P.
Materials Science
Nanoscale detection and control of the magnetic order underpins a broad spectrum of fundamental research and practical device applications. The key principle involved is the breaking of time-reversal ($\cal{T}$) symmetry, which in ferromagnets is generated by an internal magnetization. However, the presence of a net-magnetization also imposes severe limitations on compatibility with other prominent phases ranging from superconductors to topological insulators, as well as on spintronic device scalability. Recently, altermagnetism has been proposed as a solution to this restriction, since it shares the enabling $\cal{T}$-symmetry breaking characteristic of ferromagnetism, combined with the antiferromagnetic-like vanishing net-magnetization. To date, altermagnetic ordering has been inferred from spatially averaged probes. Here, we demonstrate nanoscale imaging and control of altermagnetic ordering ranging from nanoscale vortices to domain walls to microscale single-domain states in MnTe. We combine the $\cal{T}$-symmetry breaking sensitivity of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism with magnetic linear dichroism and photoemission electron microscopy, to achieve detailed imaging of the local altermagnetic ordering vector. A rich variety of spin configurations can be imposed using microstructure patterning or thermal cycling in magnetic fields. The demonstrated detection and control of altermagnetism paves the way for future research ranging from ultra-scalable digital and neuromorphic spintronic devices, to the interplay of altermagnetism with non-dissipative superconducting or topological phases.
title Altermagnetism imaged and controlled down to the nanoscale
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.02409