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At least 1,531 records · Page 85

Spin current formation at the graphene/Pt interface for magnetization manipulation in magnetic nanodots

Spin electronic structure of the Graphene/Pt interface has been investigated. A large induced spin-orbit splitting (∼80 meV) of graphene π states with formation of non-degenerated Dirac-cone spin states at the K{sup ¯}-point of the Brillouin zone crossed with spin-polarized Pt 5d states at Fermi level was found. We show that this spin structure can be used as a spin current source in spintronic devices. By theoretical estimations and micromagnetic modeling based on the experimentally observed spin-orbit splitting, we demonstarte that the induced intrinsic magnetic field in such structure might be effectively used for induced remagnetization of the (Ni-Fe)-nanodots arranged atop the interface.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Thermal stability and magnetization switching of composite free layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

We present a micromagnetic study of a ferromagnetically exchange-coupled composite free layer design for perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions. The thermal stability factor and critical switching current density depend on the exchange coupling strength and effective anisotropy ratio between the sublayers of the composite free layer. The energy barrier increases with an increase of the exchange coupling strength until it reaches a plateau in the strong-coupling limit. An optimal exchange coupling strength exists that leads to the minimal critical switching current and a significant improvement of the figure of merit defined as the ratio between the energy barrier and critical switching current. This behavior is obtained for smaller device sizes with uniform reversal and larger sizes with domain wall reversal.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetic order and fluctuations in the quasi-two-dimensional planar magnet Sr( Co 1-x Ni x ) 2 As 2

We use neutron scattering to investigate spin excitations in Sr ( Co 1 - x Ni x ) 2 As 2 , which has a c -axis incommensurate helical structure of the two-dimensional (2D) in-plane ferromagnetic (FM) ordered layers for 0.013 ≤ x ≤ 0.25 . By comparing the wave vector and energy dependent spin excitations in helical ordered Sr ( Co 0.9 Ni 0.1 ) 2 As 2 and paramagnetic SrCo 2 As 2 , we find that Ni doping, while increasing lattice disorder in Sr ( Co 1 - x Ni x ) 2 As 2 , enhances quasi-2D FM spin fluctuations. However, our band structure calculations within the combined density functional theory and dynamic mean field theory ( DFT + DMFT ) failed to generate a correct incommensurate wave vector for the observed helical order from nested Fermi surfaces. Furthermore, since transport measurements reveal increased in-plane and c -axis electrical resistivity with increasing Ni doping and associated lattice disorder, we conclude that the helical magnetic order in Sr ( Co 1 - x Ni x ) 2 As 2 may arise from a quantum order-by-disorder mechanism through the itinerant electron mediated Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interactions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Fabrication of Low-Tortuosity Ultrahigh-Area-Capacity Battery Electrodes through Magnetic Alignment of Emulsion-Based Slurries

High energy–density, low–cost batteries are critically important to a variety of applications ranging from portable electronics to electric vehicles (EVs) and grid–scale storage. While tremendous research effort has been focused on new materials or chemistries with high energy–density potential, design innovations such as low–tortuosity thick electrodes are another promising path toward higher energy density and lower cost. Growing demand for fast–charging batteries has also highlighted the need for negative electrodes that can accept high rate charging without metal deposition; low tortuosity can be a benefit in this regard. However, a general and scalable fabrication method for low–tortuosity electrodes is currently lacking. Here an emulsion–based, magnetic–alignment approach to producing thick electrodes (>400 µm thickness) with ultrahigh areal capacity (up to ≈14 mAh cm –2 vs 2–4 mAh cm –2 for conventional lithium ion) is reported. The process is demonstrated for LiCoO 2 and meso–carbon microbead graphite. The LiCoO 2 cathodes are confirmed to have low tortuosity via DC–depolarization experiments and deliver high areal capacity (>10 mAh cm –2 ) in galvanostatic discharge tests at practical C–rates and model EV drive–cycle tests. Lastly, this simple fabrication method can potentially be applied to many other active materials to enable thick, low–tortuosity electrodes.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Magnetic field screening in hydrogen-rich high-temperature superconductors

In the last few years, the superconducting transition temperature, T c , of hydrogen-rich compounds has increased dramatically, and is now approaching room temperature. However, the pressures at which these materials are stable exceed one million atmospheres and limit the number of available experimental studies. Superconductivity in hydrides has been primarily explored by electrical transport measurements, whereas magnetic properties, one of the most important characteristic of a superconductor, have not been satisfactory defined. Here, we develop SQUID magnetometry under extreme high-pressure conditions and report characteristic superconducting parameters for Im-3m-H 3 S and Fm-3m-LaH 10 —the representative members of two families of high-temperature superconducting hydrides. We determine a lower critical field H c1 of ~0.82 T and ~0.55 T, and a London penetration depth λ L of ~20 nm and ~30 nm in H 3 S and LaH 10 , respectively. The small values of λ L indicate a high superfluid density in both hydrides. These compounds have the values of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ ~12–20 and belong to the group of “moderate” type II superconductors, rather than being hard superconductors as would be intuitively expected from their high T c s.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Tuning of the nucleation field in nanowires with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

We report on domain nucleation in nanowires consisting of Co/Pt multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy that are patterned by electron-beam lithography, sputter deposition, and lift-off processing. It is found that the nucleation field can be tuned by changing the geometry of the wire ends. A reduction of the nucleation field by up to 60% is achieved when the wire ends are designed as tips. This contrasts with the behavior of wires with in-plane anisotropy where the nucleation field increases when triangular-pointed ends are used. In order to clarify the origin of the reduction of the nucleation field, micromagnetic simulations are employed. The effect cannot be explained by the lateral geometrical variation but is attributable to a local reduction of the perpendicular anisotropy caused by shadowing effects due to the resist mask during sputter deposition of the multilayer.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Magnetic behavior of LaMn{sub 2}(Si{sub (1−x)}Ge{sub x}){sub 2} compounds characterized by magnetic hyperfine field measurements

The temperature dependence of the magnetic hyperfine field (B{sub hf}) at Mn atom sites was measured in LaMn{sub 2}(Si{sub (1−x)}Ge{sub x}){sub 2}, with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, compounds with perturbed γ−γ angular correlation spectroscopy using {sup 111}In({sup 111}Cd) as probe nuclei in the temperature range from 20 K to 480 K. The results show a transition from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic ordering for all studied compounds when Ge gradually replaces Si and allowed an accurate determination of the Néel temperature (T{sub N}) for each compound. It was observed that T{sub N} decreases when Ge concentration increases. Conversely, the Curie temperature increases with increase of Ge concentration. This remarkable change in the behavior of the transition temperatures is discussed in terms of the Mn-Mn distance and ascribed to a change in the exchange constant J{sub ex}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetic collimation of relativistic positrons and electrons from high intensity laser–matter interactions

Collimation of positrons produced by laser-solid interactions has been observed using an externally applied axial magnetic field. The collimation leads to a narrow divergence positron beam, with an equivalent full width at half maximum beam divergence angle of 4° vs the un-collimated divergence of about 20°. A fraction of the laser-produced relativistic electrons with energies close to those of the positrons is collimated, so the charge imbalance ratio (n{sub e−}/n{sub e+}) in the co-propagating collimated electron-positron jet is reduced from ∼100 (no collimation) to ∼2.5 (with collimation). The positron density in the collimated beam increased from 5 × 10{sup 7} cm{sup −3} to 1.9 × 10{sup 9} cm{sup −3}, measured at the 0.6 m from the source. This is a significant step towards the grand challenge of making a charge neutral electron-positron pair plasma jet in the laboratory.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Magnetic property of transition metal-Si atomic line on silicon Σ3 grain boundary: A theoretical study

Using first-principles calculations within density functional theory, we investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of different 3d transition metal-Si atomic lines on silicon Σ3 (112) grain boundary, which can be formed through grain boundary segregation. We find that (i) Fe atoms occupy the substitutional sites at the grain boundary and form an Fe-Si atomic line, but the interaction between the Fe atoms is antiferromagnetic. (ii) The ferromagnetic stability increases with the atomic number of the transition metals and Co-Si atomic line is more stable in the ferromagnetic phase and shows a semimetallic behavior. We suggest that this special TM-Si atomic line formed by thermodynamically favorable transition metal segregation on Si grain boundary could be used in design of spin-dependent quantum devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

In situ biaxial rotation at low-temperatures in high magnetic fields

We report the design, construction, and characterization of a biaxial sample rotation stage for use in a cryogenic system for orientation-dependent studies of anisotropic electronic transport phenomena at low temperatures and high magnetic fields. Our apparatus allows for continuous rotation of a sample about two axes, both independently and simultaneously.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Micro-focused Brillouin light scattering study of the magnetization dynamics driven by Spin Hall effect in a transversely magnetized NiFe nanowire

We employed micro-focused Brillouin light scattering to study the amplification of the thermal spin wave eigenmodes by means of a pure spin current, generated by the spin-Hall effect, in a transversely magnetized Pt(4 nm)/NiFe(4 nm)/SiO{sub 2}(5 nm) layered nanowire with lateral dimensions 500 × 2750 nm{sup 2}. The frequency and the cross section of both the center (fundamental) and the edge spin wave modes have been measured as a function of the intensity of the injected dc electric current. The frequency of both modes exhibits a clear redshift while their cross section is greatly enhanced on increasing the intensity of the injected dc. A threshold-like behavior is observed for a value of the injected dc of 2.8 mA. Interestingly, an additional mode, localized in the central part of the nanowire, appears at higher frequency on increasing the intensity of the injected dc above the threshold value. Micromagnetic simulations were used to quantitatively reproduce the experimental results and to investigate the complex non-linear dynamics induced by the spin-Hall effect, including the modification of the spatial profile of the spin wave modes and the appearance of the extra mode above the threshold.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Investigation of radiative bow-shocks in magnetically accelerated plasma flows

We present a study of the formation of bow shocks in radiatively cooled plasma flows. This work uses an inverse wire array to provide a quasi-uniform, large scale hydrodynamic flow accelerated by Lorentz forces to supersonic velocities. This flow impacts a stationary object placed in its path, forming a well-defined Mach cone. Interferogram data are used to determine a Mach number of ∼6, which may increase with radial position suggesting a strongly cooling flow. Self-emission imaging shows the formation of a thin (<60 μm) strongly emitting shock region, where T{sub e} ∼ 40–50 eV, and rapid cooling behind the shock. Emission is observed upstream of the shock position which appears consistent with a radiation driven phenomenon. Data are compared to 2-dimensional simulations using the Gorgon MHD code, which show good agreement with the experiments. The simulations are also used to investigate the effect of magnetic field in the target, demonstrating that the bow-shocks have a high plasma β, and the influence of B-field at the shock is small. This consistent with experimental measurement with micro bdot probes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Magnetic and magneto-transport studies of substrate effect on the martensitic transformation in a NiMnIn shape memory alloy

The effect of substrates on the magnetic and transport properties of Ni{sub 2}Mn{sub 1.5}In{sub 0.5} ultra-thin films were studied theoretically and experimentally. High quality 8-nm films were grown by laser-assisted molecular beam epitaxy deposition. Magneto-transport measurements revealed that the films undergo electronic structure transformation similar to those of bulk materials at the martensitic transformation. The temperature of the transformation depends strongly on lattice parameters of the substrate. To explain this behavior, we performed DFT calculations on the system and found that different substrates change the relative stability of the ferromagnetic (FM) austenite and ferrimagnetic (FiM) martensite states. We conclude that the energy difference between the FM austenite and FiM martensite states in Ni{sub 2}Mn{sub 1.5}In{sub 0.5} films grown on MgO (001) substrates is ΔE = 0.20 eV per NiMnIn f.u, somewhat lower compared to ΔE = 0.24 eV in the bulk material with the same lattice parameters. When the lattice parameters of Ni{sub 2}Mn{sub 1.5}In{sub 0.5} film have values close to those of the MgO substrate, the energy difference becomes ΔE = 0.08 eV per NiMnIn f.u. These results suggest the possibility to control the martensitic transition in thin films through substrate engineering.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗