Thin film quantum materials

Abstract:

Epitaxial-grown DyFe2/YFe2 multilayer thin films form an ideal model system for the study of magnetic exchange springs. Here the DyFe2 (YFe2) layers are magnetically hard (soft). In the presence of a magnetic field, exchange springs form in the YFe2 layers. Recently, it has been demonstrated that placing small amounts of Er into the centre of the YFe2 springs generates substantial changes in magnetic behavior. In particular, (i) the number of exchange-spring states is increased dramatically, (ii) the resulting domain-wall states cannot simply be described as either Néel or Bloch walls, (iii) the Er and Dy magnetic loops are strikingly different, and (iv) it is possible to engineer Er-induced magnetic exchange-spring collapse. Here, results are presented for Er-doped (110)-oriented DyFe2 (60 Å/YFe2(240 Å)15 multilayer films, at 100 K in fields of up to 12 T. In particular, we contrast magnetic loops for fields applied along seemingly equivalent hard-magnetic [110]-type axes. MBE-grown cubic Laves thin films offer the unique feature of allowing to apply the magnetic field along (i) a hard out-of-plane [110]-axis (the growth axis) and (ii) a similar hard in-plane [110]-axis. Differences are found and attributed to the competition between the crystal-field interaction at the Er site and the long-range dipole-dipole interaction. In particular, the out-of-plane [110] Er results show the existence of a new magnetic exchange spring state, which would be very difficult to identify without the aid of element-specific technique of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD).

Abstract:

Using soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy we determined the chemical and magnetic properties of the magnetic topological insulator (MTI) Cr:Sb2Te3. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at the Cr L2,3, Te M4,5, and Sb M4,5 edges shows that the Te 5p moment is aligned antiparallel to both the Cr 3d and Sb 5p moments, which is characteristic for carrier-mediated ferromagnetic coupling. Comparison of the Cr L2,3 spectra with multiplet calculations indicates a hybridized Cr state, consistent with the carrier-mediated coupling scenario. We studied the enhancement of the Curie temperature, TC, of the MTI thin film through the magnetic proximity effect. Arrott plots, measured using the Cr L3 XMCD, show a TC ≈ 87 K for the as-cleaved film. After deposition of a thin layer of ferromagnetic Co onto the surface, the TC increases to ∼93 K, while the Co and Cr moments are parallel. This increase in TC is unexpectedly small compared to similar systems reported earlier. The XMCD spectra demonstrate that the Co/MTI interface remains intact, i.e., no reaction between Co and the MTI takes place. Our results are a useful starting point for refining the physical models of Cr-doped Sb2Te3, which is required for making use of them in device applications.

Abstract:

The mathematical concept of topology has brought about significant advantages that allow for a fundamental understanding of the underlying physics of a system. In magnetism, the topology of spin order manifests itself in the topological winding number which plays a pivotal role for the determination of the emergent properties of a system. However, the direct experimental determination of the topological winding number of a magnetically ordered system remains elusive. Here, we present a direct relationship between the topological winding number of the spin texture and the polarized resonant X-ray scattering process. This relationship provides a one-to-one correspondence between the measured scattering signal and the winding number. We demonstrate that the exact topological quantities of the skyrmion material Cu2OSeO3 can be directly experimentally determined this way. This technique has the potential to be applicable to a wide range of materials, allowing for a direct determination of their topological properties.