Anomalous spin-orbit torques in magnetic single-layer films.

The spin Hall effect couples charge and spin transport, enabling electrical control of magnetization. A quintessential example of spin-Hall-related transport is the anomalous Hall effect (AHE), first observed in 1880, in which an electric current perpendicular to the magnetization in a magnetic film generates charge accumulation on the surfaces. Here, we report the observation of a counterpart of the AHE that we term the anomalous spin-orbit torque (ASOT), wherein an electric current parallel to the magnetization generates opposite spin-orbit torques on the surfaces of the magnetic film.

X-Ray Diffraction Line Broadening: Modeling and Applications to High-T Superconductors.

A method to analyze powder-diffraction line broadening is proposed and applied to some novel high- superconductors. Assuming that both size-broadened and strain-broadened profiles of the pure-specimen profile are described with a Voigt function, it is shown that the analysis of Fourier coefficients leads to the Warren-Averbach method of separation of size and strain contributions. The analysis of size coefficients shows that the "hook" effect occurs when the Cauchy content of the size-broadened profile is underestimated.