An official website of the United States government
Abstract One-dimensional strings of local excitations are a fascinating feature of the physical behavior of strongly correlated topological quantum matter. Here we study strings of local excitations in a classical system of interacting nanomagnets, the Santa Fe Ice geometry of artificial spin ice. We measured the moment configuration of the nanomagnets, both after annealing near the ferromagnetic Curie point and in a thermally dynamic state. While the Santa Fe Ice lattice structure is complex, we demonstrate that its disordered magnetic state is naturally described within a framework of emergent strings. We show experimentally that the string length follows a simple Boltzmann distribution with an energy scale that is associated with the system’s magnetic interactions and is consistent with theoretical predictions. The results demonstrate that string descriptions and associated topological characteristics are not unique to quantum models but can also provide a simplifying description of complex classical systems with non-trivial frustration.
more »
« less
Understanding thermal annealing of artificial spin ice
We have performed a detailed study on thermal annealing of the moment configuration in artificial spin ice. Permalloy (Ni80Fe20) artificial spin ice samples were examined in the prototypical square ice geometry, studying annealing as a function of island thickness, island shape, and annealing temperature and duration. We also measured the Curie temperature as a function of film thickness, finding that thickness has a strong effect on the Curie temperature in regimes of relevance to many studies of the dynamics of artificial spin ice systems. Increasing the interaction energy between island moments and reducing the energy barrier to flipping the island moments allow the system to more closely approach the collective low energy state of the moments upon annealing, suggesting new channels for understanding the thermalization processes in these important model systems.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1807124
- PAR ID:
- 10594642
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Institute of Physics
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- APL Materials
- Volume:
- 7
- Issue:
- 11
- ISSN:
- 2166-532X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
We have carried out a combined theoretical and experimental investigation of both stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric CoFeVGe alloys. In particular, we have investigated CoFeVGe, Co1.25Fe0.75VGe, Co0.75Fe1.25VGe, and CoFe0.75VGe bulk alloys. Our first principles calculations suggest that all four alloys show ferromagnetic order, where CoFeVGe, Co1.25Fe0.75VGe, and Co0.75Fe1.25VGe are highly spin polarized with spin polarization values of over 80%. However, the spin polarization value of CoFe0.75VGe is only about 60%. We have synthesized all four samples using arc melting and high-vacuum annealing at 600 °C for 48 hours. The room temperature x-ray diffraction of these samples exhibits a cubic crystal structure with disorder. All the samples show single magnetic transitions at their Curie temperatures, where the Curie temperature and high field (3T) magnetization are 288 K and 42 emu/g; 305 K and 1.5 emu/g; 238 K and 39 emu/g; and 306 K and 35 emu/g for CoFeVGe, Co1.25Fe0.75VGe, Co0.75Fe1.25VGe, and CoFe0.75VGe, respectively.more » « less
-
Artificial spin ice, arrays of strongly interacting nanomagnets, are complex magnetic systems with many emergent properties, rich microstate spaces, intrinsic physical memory, high-frequency dynamics in the GHz range, and compatibility with a broad range of measurement approaches. This Tutorial article aims to provide the foundational knowledge needed to understand, design, develop, and improve the dynamic properties of artificial spin ice. Special emphasis is placed on introducing the theory of micromagnetics, which describes the complex dynamics within these systems, along with their design, fabrication methods, and standard measurement and control techniques. The article begins with a review of the historical background, introducing the underlying physical phenomena and interactions that govern artificial spin ice. We then explore the standard experimental techniques used to prepare the microstate space of the nanomagnetic array and to characterize magnetization dynamics, both in artificial spin ice and more broadly in ferromagnetic materials. Finally, we introduce the basics of neuromorphic computing applied to the case of artificial spin ice systems with a goal to help researchers new to the field grasp these exciting new developments.more » « less
-
Half-metallic Heusler alloys have attracted significant attention due to their potential application in spin-transport-based devices. We have synthesized one such alloy, CoFeV0.5Mn0.5Si, using arc melting and high-vacuum annealing at 600 °C for 24 hours. First principles calculation indicates that CoFeV0.5Mn0.5Si shows a nearly half-metallic band structure with a degree of spin polarization of about 93%. In addition, this value can be enhanced by the application of tensile strain. The room temperature x-ray diffraction patterns are indexed with the cubic crystal structure without secondary phases. The annealed sample shows ferromagnetic order with the Curie temperature well above room temperature (Tc = 657 K) and a saturation magnetization of about 92 emu/g. Our results indicate that CoFeV0.5Mn0.5Si has a potential for room temperature spin-transport-based devices.more » « less
-
We report results of magnetization and 19F NMR measurements in the normal state of as-grown vacuum-annealed LaO0.5F0.5BiS2. The magnetization is dominated by a temperature-independent diamagnetic component and a field- and temperature-dependent paramagnetic contribution 𝑀𝜇(𝐻,𝑇) from a ∼1000 ppm concentration of local moments, an order of magnitude higher than can be accounted for by measured rare-earth impurity concentrations. 𝑀𝜇(𝐻,𝑇) can be fit by the Brillouin function 𝐵𝐽(𝑥) or, perhaps more realistically, a two-level tanh(𝑥) model for magnetic Bi 6𝑝 ions in defect crystal fields. Both fits require a phenomenological Curie-Weiss argument 𝑥=𝜇eff𝐻/(𝑇+𝑇𝑊), 𝑇𝑊≈1.7 K. There is no evidence for magnetic order down to 2 K, and the origin of 𝑇𝑊 is not clear. 19F frequency shifts, linewidths, and spin-lattice relaxation rates are consistent with purely dipolar 19F/defect-spin interactions. The defect-spin correlation time 𝜏𝑐(𝑇) obtained from 19F spin-lattice relaxation rates obeys the Korringa relation 𝜏𝑐𝑇=const, indicating the relaxation is dominated by conduction-band fluctuations.more » « less
