Large intrinsic anomalous Hall effect in SrIrO induced by magnetic proximity effect.

The anomalous Hall effect (AHE) is an intriguing transport phenomenon occurring typically in ferromagnets as a consequence of broken time reversal symmetry and spin-orbit interaction. It can be caused by two microscopically distinct mechanisms, namely, by skew or side-jump scattering due to chiral features of the disorder scattering, or by an intrinsic contribution directly linked to the topological properties of the Bloch states. Here we show that the AHE can be artificially engineered in materials in which it is originally absent by combining the effects of symmetry breaking, spin orbit interaction and proximity-induced magnetism.

Exploiting Symmetry Mismatch to Control Magnetism in a Ferroelastic Heterostructure.

In the bulk, LaCoO_{3} (LCO) is a paramagnet, yet the low-temperature ferromagnetism (FM) is observed in tensile strained thin films, and its origin remains unresolved. Here, we quantitatively measured the distribution of atomic density and magnetization in LCO films by polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) and found that the LCO layers near the heterointerfaces exhibit a reduced magnetization but an enhanced atomic density, whereas the film's interior (i.e.

X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy Applied to Nitrogenase and Related Models: Experimental Evidence for a Spin-Coupled Molybdenum(III) Center.

Nitrogenase enzymes catalyze the reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia utilizing a Mo-7Fe-9S-C active site, the so-called FeMoco cluster. FeMoco and an analogous small-molecule (Et N)[(Tp)MoFe S Cl ] cubane have both been proposed to contain unusual spin-coupled Mo sites with an S(Mo)=1/2 non-Hund configuration at the Mo atom. Herein, we present Fe and Mo L -edge X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy of the (Et N)[(Tp)MoFe S Cl ] cubane and Fe L -edge XMCD spectroscopy of the MoFe protein (containing both FeMoco and the 8Fe-7S P-cluster active sites).

Nanoscale ferroelastic twins formed in strained LaCoO films.

The coexistence and coupling of ferroelasticity and magnetic ordering in a single material offers a great opportunity to realize novel devices with multiple tuning knobs. Complex oxides are a particularly promising class of materials to find multiferroic interactions due to their rich phase diagrams, and are sensitive to external perturbations. Still, there are very few examples of these systems.

Tuning the Néel Temperature of Hexagonal Ferrites by Structural Distortion.

To tune the magnetic properties of hexagonal ferrites, a family of magnetoelectric multiferroic materials, by atomic-scale structural engineering, we studied the effect of structural distortion on the magnetic ordering temperature (T_{N}) in these materials. Using the symmetry analysis, we show that unlike most antiferromagnetic rare-earth transition-metal perovskites, a larger structural distortion leads to a higher T_{N} in hexagonal ferrites and manganites, because the K_{3} structural distortion induces the three-dimensional magnetic ordering, which is forbidden in the undistorted structure by symmetry. We also revealed a near-linear relation between T_{N} and the tolerance factor and a power-law relation between T_{N} and the K_{3} distortion amplitude.

Control of Epitaxial BaFeAs Atomic Configurations with Substrate Surface Terminations.

Atomic layer controlled growth of epitaxial thin films of unconventional superconductors opens the opportunity to discover novel high temperature superconductors. For instance, the interfacial atomic configurations may play an important role in superconducting behavior of monolayer FeSe on SrTiO and other Fe-based superconducting thin films. Here, we demonstrate a selective control of the atomic configurations in Co-doped BaFeAs epitaxial thin films and its strong influence on superconducting transition temperatures by manipulating surface termination of (001) SrTiO substrates.

Phase Coexistence and Kinetic Arrest in the Magnetostructural Transition of the Ordered Alloy FeRh.

In materials where two or more ordering degrees of freedom are closely matched in their free energies, coupling between them, or multiferroic behavior can occur. These phenomena can produce a very rich phase behavior, as well as emergent phases that offer useful properties and opportunities to reveal novel phenomena in phase transitions. The ordered alloy FeRh undergoes an antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition at ~375 K, which illustrates the interplay between structural and magnetic order mediated by a delicate energy balance between two configurations.

Voltage-controlled interlayer coupling in perpendicularly magnetized magnetic tunnel junctions.

Magnetic interlayer coupling is one of the central phenomena in spintronics. It has been predicted that the sign of interlayer coupling can be manipulated by electric fields, instead of electric currents, thereby offering a promising low energy magnetization switching mechanism. Here we present the experimental demonstration of voltage-controlled interlayer coupling in a new perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction system with a GdO tunnel barrier, where a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and a sizable tunnelling magnetoresistance have been achieved at room temperature.

Direct imaging of coexisting ordered and frustrated sublattices in artificial ferromagnetic quasicrystals.

We have used scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis and photoemission electron microscopy to image the two-dimensional magnetization of permalloy films patterned into Penrose P2 tilings (P2T). The interplay of exchange interactions in asymmetrically coordinated vertices and short-range dipole interactions among connected film segments stabilize magnetically ordered, spatially distinct sublattices that coexist with frustrated sublattices at room temperature. Numerical simulations that include long-range dipole interactions between sublattices agree with images of as-grown P2T samples and predict a magnetically ordered ground state for a two-dimensional quasicrystal lattice of classical Ising spins.

Effect of interfacial octahedral behavior in ultrathin manganite films.

We investigate structural coupling of the MnO6 octahedra across a film/substrate interface and the resultant changes of the physical properties of ultrathin La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 (LSMO) films. In order to isolate the effect of interfacial MnO6 octahedral behavior from that of epitaxial strain, LSMO films are grown on substrates with different symmetry and similar lattice parameters. Ultrathin LSMO films show an increased magnetization and electrical conductivity on cubic (LaAlO3)0.

Fluorination of epitaxial oxides: synthesis of perovskite oxyfluoride thin films.

While the synthesis of ABO3 perovskite films has enabled new strategies to control the functionality of this material class, the chemistries that have been realized in thin film form constitute only a fraction of those accessible to bulk chemists. Here, we report the synthesis of oxyfluoride films, where the incorporation of F may provide a new means to tune physical properties in thin films by modifying electronic structure. Fluorination is achieved by spin coating a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) solution onto oxygen-deficient films.

Robust antiferromagnetic coupling in hard-soft bi-magnetic core/shell nanoparticles.

The growing miniaturization demand of magnetic devices is fuelling the recent interest in bi-magnetic nanoparticles as ultimate small components. One of the main goals has been to reproduce practical magnetic properties observed so far in layered systems. In this context, although useful effects such as exchange bias or spring magnets have been demonstrated in core/shell nanoparticles, other interesting key properties for devices remain elusive.

Detection of microwave phase variation in nanometre-scale magnetic heterostructures.

The internal phase profile of electromagnetic radiation determines many functional properties of metal, oxide or semiconductor heterostructures. In magnetic heterostructures, emerging spin electronic phenomena depend strongly upon the phase profile of the magnetic field H at gigahertz frequencies. Here we demonstrate nanometre-scale, layer-resolved detection of electromagnetic phase through the radio frequency magnetic field H(rf) in magnetic heterostructures.

Optical design of the Short Pulse Soft X-ray Spectroscopy beamline at the Advanced Photon Source.

The Short Pulse X-ray facility planned for the Advanced Photon Source (APS) upgrade will provide two sectors with photon beams having picosecond pulse duration. The Short Pulse Soft X-ray Spectroscopy (SPSXS) beamline will cover the 150-2000 eV energy range using an APS bending magnet. SPSXS is designed to take full advantage of this new timing capability in addition to providing circular polarized radiation.

Room-temperature multiferroic hexagonal LuFeO3 films.

The crystal and magnetic structures of single-crystalline hexagonal LuFeO(3) films have been studied using x-ray, electron, and neutron diffraction methods. The polar structure of these films are found to persist up to 1050 K; and the switchability of the polar behavior is observed at room temperature, indicating ferroelectricity. An antiferromagnetic order was shown to occur below 440 K, followed by a spin reorientation resulting in a weak ferromagnetic order below 130 K.

Elemental and magnetic sensitive imaging using x-ray excited luminescence microscopy.

We demonstrate the potential of x-ray excited luminescence microscopy for full-field elemental and magnetic sensitive imaging using a commercially available optical microscope, mounted on preexisting synchrotron radiation (SR) beamline end stations. The principal components of the instrument will be described. Bench top measurements indicate that a resolution of 1 μm or better is possible; this value was degraded in practice due to vibrations and/or drift in the end station and associated manipulator.

Strongly exchange coupled inverse ferrimagnetic soft/hard, Mn(x)Fe(3-x)O4/Fe(x)Mn(3-x)O4, core/shell heterostructured nanoparticles.

Inverted soft/hard, in contrast to conventional hard/soft, bi-magnetic core/shell nanoparticles of Mn(x)Fe(3-x)O(4)/Fe(x)Mn(3-x)O(4) with two different core sizes (7.5 and 11.5 nm) and fixed shell thickness (∼0.

Studies of nanomagnetism using synchrotron-based x-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM).

As interest in magnetic devices has increased over the last 20 years, research into nanomagnetism has experienced a corresponding growth. Device applications from magnetic storage to magnetic logic have compelled interest in the influence of geometry and finite size on magnetism and magnetic excitations, in particular where the smallest dimensions reach the important magnetic interaction length scales. The dynamical behavior of nanoscale magnets is an especially important subset of research, as these phenomena are both critical for device physics and profoundly influenced by finite size.

Charge order in LuFe2O4: an unlikely route to ferroelectricity.

We present the refinement of the crystal structure of charge-ordered LuFe2O4, based on single-crystal x-ray diffraction data. The arrangement of the different Fe-valence states, determined with bond-valence-sum analysis, corresponds to a stacking of charged Fe bilayers, in contrast with the polar bilayers previously suggested. This arrangement is supported by an analysis of x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectra, which also evidences a strong charge-spin coupling.

Spin polarization measurement of homogeneously doped Fe(1-x)Co(x)Si nanowires by Andreev reflection spectroscopy.

We report a general method for determining the spin polarization from nanowire materials using Andreev reflection spectroscopy implemented with a Nb superconducting contact and common electron-beam lithography device fabrication techniques. This method was applied to magnetic semiconducting Fe(1-x)Co(x)Si alloy nanowires with x̅ = 0.23, and the average spin polarization extracted from 6 nanowire devices is 28 ± 7% with a highest observed value of 35%.

Element-specific magnetometry of EuS nanocrystals.

A soft x-ray absorption and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study of the ferromagnetism in solution-grown EuS nanocrystals (NCs) is reported. The absorption edges of Eu M(5) and M(4), S K, O K, and P K were probed to determine elementally specific contributions to the magnetism of EuS NCs. Differential spin absorption was observed by XMCD at the Eu M(5,4) edges confirming the presence of a magnetic moment on the Eu(2+) 4f shell.

Magnetic instability regions in patterned structures: influence of element shape on magnetization reversal dynamics.

We report a time-resolved imaging study of the influence of shape on magnetic instabilities in patterned magnetic structures. We find that in rectangular structures magnetization reversal initiates at the ends and interior simultaneously, while in structures with tapered ends the reversal begins in the middle of the structures and spreads out to the ends. The degree of tapering is important for both the switching field and the time required for full reversal.

Ferrimagnetism in EuFe4Sb12 due to the interplay of f-electron moments and a nearly ferromagnetic host.

We combine x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy at Fe L2,3 edges, at Eu M4,5 edges, x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) investigation of Eu valence, and local spin density calculations, to show that the filled skutterudite Eu0.95Fe4Sb12 is a ferrimagnet in which the Fe 3d moment and the Eu2+ 4f moment are magnetically ordered with dominant antiferromagnetic coupling. From Eu L3 edge XAS, we find that about 13% of the Eu have a formal valence of 3+.

Magnetic vortex core dynamics in cylindrical ferromagnetic dots.

We report direct imaging by means of x-ray photoemission electron microscopy of the dynamics of magnetic vortices confined in micron-sized circular permalloy dots that are 30 nm thick. The vortex core positions oscillate on a 10 ns time scale in a self-induced magnetostatic potential well after the in-plane magnetic field is turned off. The measured oscillation frequencies as a function of the aspect ratio of the dots are in agreement with theoretical calculations presented for the same geometry.