Strong Magnetoelastic Interaction Research Articles

Photoinduced Nonthermal Reduction of the Coercive Field in FePt and FePt0.84Rh0.16 Epitaxial Thin Films in the L10 Phase

The time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect in epitaxial thin films of the FePt compound and the FePt0.84Rh0.16 solid solution with the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy on MgO (001) substrates has been studied. The evolution of hysteresis loops at short (100 fs–1 ns) and long (1–20 ms) time scales after the excitation by a femtosecond light pulse has been studied. Long-lived nonthermal reduction of the coercive field has been detected. The coercive field is recovered in several milliseconds. It has been proposed to explain the observed phenomenon by the excitation of high-Q-factor acoustic resonances in the substrate/film system and to the strong magnetoelastic interaction in FePt and FePt0.84Rh0.16 films.

Magnetic Order and Its Interplay with Structure Phase Transition in van der Waals Ferromagnet VI3 Supported by the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (Grant No. 2017-01-07-00-07-E00018), the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (Grant No. 2019SHZDZX01), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11874119). E.F. and H.C. acknowledge the support of U.S. DOE BES

Van der Waals magnet VI3 demonstrates intriguing magnetic properties that render it great for use in various applications. However, its microscopic magnetic structure has not been determined yet. Here, we report neutron diffraction and susceptibility measurements in VI3 that revealed a ferromagnetic order with the moment direction tilted from the c-axis by ∼36° at 4 K. A spin reorientation accompanied by a structure distortion within the honeycomb plane is observed, before the magnetic order completely disappears at T C = 50 K. The refined magnetic moment of ∼1.3 μ B at 4 K is much lower than the fully ordered spin moment of 2μ B/V3+, suggesting the presence of a considerable orbital moment antiparallel to the spin moment and strong spin–orbit coupling in VI3. This results in strong magnetoelastic interactions that make the magnetic properties of VI3 easily tunable via strain and pressure.

Piezomagnetic switching and complex phase equilibria in uranium dioxide

Actinide materials exhibit strong spin–lattice coupling and electronic correlations, and are predicted to host new emerging ground states. One example is piezomagnetism and magneto-elastic memory effect in the antiferromagnetic Mott-Hubbard insulator uranium dioxide, though its microscopic nature is under debate. Here, we report X-ray diffraction studies of oriented uranium dioxide crystals under strong pulsed magnetic fields. In the antiferromagnetic state a [888] Bragg diffraction peak follows the bulk magnetostriction that expands under magnetic fields. Upon reversal of the field the expansion turns to contraction, before the [888] peak follows the switching effect and piezomagnetic ‘butterfly’ behaviour, characteristic of two structures connected by time reversal symmetry. An unexpected splitting of the [888] peak is observed, indicating the simultaneous presence of time-reversed domains of the 3-k structure and a complex magnetic-field-induced evolution of the microstructure. These findings open the door for a microscopic understanding of the piezomagnetism and magnetic coupling across strong magneto-elastic interactions.

Strong Converse Magnetoelectric Effect in a Composite of Weakly Ferromagnetic Iron Borate and Ferroelectric Lead Zirconate Titanate

This report is on a model and experiment on the nature of mechanical-strain-mediated converse magnetoelectric (CME) effect in a composite of single-crystal iron borate, a canted antiferromagnet with a weak ferromagnetic moment, and ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT). The piezoelectric strain generated in PZT by an electric field E manifested as a shift in the quasiferromagnetic resonance (FMR) field in iron borate due to strong magnetoelastic interactions. The CME interaction strength determined from data on field shift in FMR versus E is 46--54 MHz cm/kV at 5.5--6.5 GHz. The strength of the CME is comparable to values reported for composites of ferrimagnetic oxides and PZT. A model that considers the effect of piezoelectric deformation on magnetic order parameters and magnetic resonance in iron borate is proposed for the CMEs in the composite and estimated ME coupling coefficients are in good agreement with data. The E tunability of the high-frequency AFMR mode at about 300 GHz is estimated to be on the order of 1.7 MHz kV/cm and is very small relative to the quasi-FMR mode. Composites of iron borate and ferroelectrics are very attractive for use in dual electric field and magnetic field tunable signal processing devices due to strong CME interactions and the need for a rather small bias magnetic field compared with traditional ferrimagnetic oxide based devices.

Theory of quantum acoustomagnonics and acoustomechanics with a micromagnet

Recently [1], we proposed a new way to engineer a flexible acoustomechanical coupling between the center-of-mass motion of an isolated micromagnet and one of its internal acoustic phonons by using a magnon as a passive mediator. In our approach, the coupling is enabled by the strong magnetoelastic interaction between magnons and acoustic phonons which originates from the small particle size. Here, we substantially extend our previous work. First, we provide the full theory of the quantum acoustomagnonic interaction in small micromagnets and analytically calculate the magnon-phonon coupling rates. Second, we fully derive the acoustomechanical Hamiltonian presented in Ref. [1]. Finally, we extend our previous results for the fundamental acoustic mode to higher order modes. Specifically, we show the cooling of the center-of-mass motion with a range of internal acoustic modes. Additionally, we derive the power spectral densities of the center-of-mass motion which allow to probe the same acoustic modes.

Crystal structures and phase transitions of the van der Waals ferromagnet VI3

The results of a single-crystal x-ray-diffraction study of the evolution of the crystal structures of $\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{I}}_{3}$ with temperature with an emphasis on phase transitions are presented. Some related specific-heat and magnetization data are included. The existence of the room-temperature trigonal crystal structure $R\overline{3}$ (148) has been confirmed. Upon cooling, $\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{I}}_{3}$ undergoes a structural phase transition to a monoclinic phase at ${T}_{\mathrm{s}}\ensuremath{\sim}79\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. ${T}_{\mathrm{s}}$ is reduced in magnetic fields applied along the trigonal $c$ axis. When $\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{I}}_{3}$ becomes ferromagnetic at ${T}_{\mathrm{FM}1}\ensuremath{\sim}50\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, magnetostriction-induced changes of the monoclinic-structure parameters are observed. Upon further cooling, the monoclinic structure transforms into a triclinic variant at 32 K which is most likely occurring in conjunction with the previously reported transformation of the ferromagnetic structure. The observed phenomena are preliminarily attributed to strong magnetoelastic interactions.

Synchrotron x-ray scattering of magnetic and electronic structure of UN and U2N3 epitaxial films

We examine the magnetic ordering of UN and of a closely related nitride, U2N3, by preparing thin epitaxial films and using synchrotron x-ray techniques. The magnetic configuration and subsequent coupling to the lattice are key features of the electronic structure. The well-known antiferromagnetic (AF) ordering of UN is confirmed, but the expected accompanying distortion at Tn is not observed. Instead, we propose that the strong magneto-elastic interaction at low temperature involves changes in the strain of the material. These strains vary as a function of the sample form. As a consequence, the accepted AF configuration of UN may be incorrect. In the case of cubic a-U2N3, no single crystals have been previously prepared, and we have determined the AF ordering wave-vector. The AF Tn is close to that previously reported. In addition, resonant diffraction methods have identified an aspherical quadrupolar charge contribution in U2N3 involving the 5f electrons; the first time this has been observed in an actinide compound.

Neutron Larmor diffraction investigation of the rare-earth pyrochlores R2Ti2O7 ( R=Tb , Dy, Ho)

In this work we present a neutron Larmor diffraction study of the rare earth pyrochlores $R_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$, with $R$ = Tb, Dy, Ho. We measured the temperature dependence of the lattice parameter with precision $10^{-5}$, between 0.5 K and 300 K in each of the three compounds. The lattice parameter of the spin ices Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ and Ho$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ enters into the derivation of the charge of the emergent magnetic monopole excitations suggested to exist in these materials. We found that throughout the range of applicability of the theory of emergent monopoles in the spin ices there will be no renormalization of the monopole charge due to lattice contraction. In Tb$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ strong magnetoelastic interactions have been reported. We found no sign of the previously reported negative thermal expansion, but did observe anomalies in the thermal expansion that can be correlated with previously observed interactions between phonon and crystal field excitations. Other features in the thermal expansion of all three compounds can be related to previously observed anomalies the elastic constants, and explained by the phonon band structure of the rare earth titanates. The temperature dependence of the lattice strain in all three compounds can be correlated with the thermal population of excited crystal field levels.

Erratum to: “Role of strong magnetoelastic interaction in multiferroics materials: Semiconductor CuCrO2 and insulator CaMn7O12”

Erratum to: “Role of strong magnetoelastic interaction in multiferroics materials: Semiconductor CuCrO2 and insulator CaMn7O12”

Role of strong magnetoelastic interaction in multiferroics materials: Semiconductor CuCrO2 and insulator CaMn7O12

It is shown that strong magnetoelastic interaction causes significant piezoelectric effects in multiferroics. The electric polarization of a single crystal is observed parallel to the axes of magnetic helicoids, either in the basal plane (one example is CuCrO2) or perpendicular to it (in CaMn7O12). The role of topological defects in multiferroic-semiconductor CuCrO2, where counterpropagating domains may exist, is discussed. The nonmonotonic change in polarization with an increase in external pressure in this material is explained phenomenologically, and the possibility of existence of an antiferroelectric state is also discussed. For the CaMn7O12 crystal with giant polarization, it is shown that the helix pitch may remain constant under large variations in temperature. The chirality of helicoids for multiferroics of both types correlates with the polarization orientation.

Magnetic anisotropy and magnetic phase transitions in RFe5Al7

RFe5Al7 (R – Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm) single crystals have been studied by measurements of magnetization, sound propagation (in static and pulsed magnetic fields up to 60T) and specific heat. Fundamental magnetic properties have been determined and compared for all these materials. RFe5Al7 are highly anisotropic ferrimagnets. Spontaneous and field-induced magnetic phase transitions of anisotropic and exchange nature have been observed in RFe5Al7. Strong magnetoelastic interactions are manifested by pronounced acoustic anomalies at the phase transformations. The detected magnetization jumps provide important information on the R–Fe inter-sublattice exchange interactions.

Andreev-spectroscopy study of unconventional superconductivity in MgB2:(La,Sr)MnO3 nanocomposite

Unconventional high-temperature superconductivity in MgB2:La0:65Sr0:35MnO3 (MgB:LSMO) nanocomposite has been found recently [V. N. Krivoruchko and V. Yu. Tarenkov, Phys. Rev. B 86, 10502 (2012)]. In this report, the symmetry of the nanocomposite superconducting order parameter and plausible pairing mechanisms have been studied by the point-contact Andreev-reflection (PCAR) spectroscopy. To clarify the experimental results obtained, we consider a model of a ferromagnetic superconductor, which assumes a coexistence of itinerant ferromagnetism and mixed-parity superconductivity. The Balian–Werthamer state, with quasiparticle gap topology of the same form as that of the ordinary s- wave state, fits the experimental data reasonably well. Utilizing the extended Eliashberg formalizm, we calculated the contribution of MgB2 in the total composite's conductivity and estimated the magnitude of the electron–phonon effects originated from MgB2 in I–V characteristics of the composite at above-gap energies. It was found that distinctive features observed in the PC spectra of the MgB:LSMO samples and conventionally attributed to the electron–phonon interaction cannot be related to the MgB2 phonons. It is argued that the detected singularities may be a manifestation of the electron-spectrum renormalizations due to strong magnetoelastic (magnon–phonon) interaction in LSMO.

Magnetic field and atomic order effect on the martensitic transformation of a metamagnetic alloy

The martensitic transformation (MT) of metamagnetic shape memory alloys is very sensitive to the applied magnetic field and atomic order. We analyze the alloy Ni50Mn34.5In15.5 in magnetic fields up to 13 T. The alloy has been prepared both in an ordered state by slow cooling, and in a disordered state by rapid quenching. In both cases the dependence of the martensitic transition temperature on the field is highly nonlinear. Such departure from linearity is due to a decrease of the entropy change at the transition, ΔS, with the applied field. This can be explained by the ordering effect of the magnetic field on the frustrated magnetic structure of the alloy in the martensitic phase. Compliance with a recent model, relying on the strong magnetoelastic interactions in these compounds, is very satisfactory.

Direct evidence of the magnetoelastic interaction in Ni2MnGa magnetic shape memory system

The martensitic transformation in stoichiometric Ni2MnGa alloys is preceded by a weakly first order transformation from a high temperature cubic phase to a near-cubic modulated intermediate phase related to the presence of a soft phonon mode. This transformation has been proposed to appear as a consequence of the magnetoelastic coupling. Inelastic neutron scattering experiment performed under external magnetic field shows a temperature shift of the characteristic energy dip at ζ ≈ 0.33. Furthermore, an enhancement of the long-wavelength limit (C′) of this branch with the applied magnetic field has been observed. Both results evidence a strong magnetoelastic interaction at the intermediate transition.

Spectroscopic Signature of the Superparamagnetic Transition and Surface Spin Disorder in CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles

Phonons are exquisitely sensitive to finite length scale effects in a wide variety of materials. To investigate confinement in combination with strong magnetoelastic interactions, we measured the infrared vibrational properties of CoFe(2)O(4) nanoparticles and compared our results to trends in the coercivity over the same size range and to the response of the bulk material. Remarkably, the spectroscopic response is sensitive to the size-induced crossover to the superparamagnetic state, which occurs between 7 and 10 nm. A spin-phonon coupling analysis supports the core-shell model. Moreover, it provides an estimate of the magnetically disordered shell thickness, which increases from 0.4 nm in the 14 nm particles to 0.8 nm in the 5 nm particles, demonstrating that the associated local lattice distortions take place on the length scale of the unit cell. These findings are important for understanding finite length scale effects in this and other magnetic oxides where magnetoelastic interactions are important.

Optimization of smart Heusler alloys from first principles

Abstract The strong magnetoelastic interaction in ternary X2YZ Heusler alloys is reponsible for the appearance of magnetostructural phase transitions and related functional properties such as the magnetocaloric and magnetic shape-memory effects. Here, X and Y are transition metal elements and Z is usually an element from the III–V group. In order to discuss possibilities to optimize the multifunctional effects, we use density functional theory calculations from which the martensitic driving forces of the magnetic materials can be derived. We find that the electronic contribution arising from the band Jahn–Teller effect is one of the major driving forces. The ab initio calculations also give a hint of how to design new intermetallics with higher martensitic transformation temperatures compared to the prototype alloy system Ni–Mn–Ga. As an example, we discuss quarternary PtxNi2−xMnGa alloys which have properties very similar to Ni–Mn–Ga but exhibit a higher maximal eigenstrain of 14%.

Magneto-Acoustic Properties of UCuGe Single Crystal

We report on results of sound velocity and sound-attenuation measurements performed on the antiferromagnetic (TN=48 K) UCuGe. The measurements have been done on a UCuGe single crystal at different frequencies for longitudinal ultrasound waves propagating along the [001] direction in static (up to 18 T) and pulsed (up to 60 T) magnetic fields applied along the same direction. The temperature dependences of the sound velocity and attenuation display a pronounced anomaly at TN, which is evidence for a strong magneto-elastic interaction. The pulse-field measurements at 4.2 K show a minimum in the sound velocity followed by a jump-like anomaly at 37 T, and another kink-like anomaly at 48–49 T. These anomalies are due to field-induced spin rearrangements as measured in magnetization studies. In the paramagnetic state (T>TN), both acoustic characteristics show large frequency-dependent changes revealing the presence of an unusual relaxation mechanism which might be due to vacancy dynamics.

Crystallography, anisotropic metamagnetism, and magnetocaloric effect inTb5Si2.2Ge1.8

The metamagnetic-like transitions and giant magnetocaloric effect were observed with the magnetic field applied parallel to the $a$ and $c$ axes, but not the $b$ axis in a ${\mathrm{Tb}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{2.2}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{1.8}$ single crystal. The in situ x-ray powder diffraction study indicates that these metamagnetic-like transitions are coupled to crystallographic phase transformations occurring via strong magnetoelastic interactions. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy plays an important role in this system. Magnetic fields less than $40\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kOe}$ cannot drive either the magnetic or the crystallographic phase transition to completion for ${\mathrm{Tb}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{2.2}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{1.8}$ powder due to the strong single ion anisotropy of Tb.

Phase transitions inNi2+xMn1−xGawith a high Ni excess

Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys Ni$_{2+x}$Mn$_{1-x}$Ga were studied in the range of compositions $0.16 \le x \le 0.36$. Experimental phase diagram, constructed from differential scanning calorimetry, transport and magnetic measurements, exhibits distinctive feature in a compositional interval $0.18 \le x \le 0.27$, where martensitic and magnetic transitions merge in a first-order magnetostructural phase transition ferromagnetic martensite $\leftrightarrow$ paramagnetic austenite. Observed in this interval of compositions a non-monotonous behavior of the magnetostructural phase transition temperature was ascribed to the difference in the exchange interactions of martensitic and austenitic phase and to the competition between increasing number of valence electron and progressive dilution of the magnetic subsystem which occur in the presence of a strong magnetoelastic interaction. Based on the experimental phase diagram, the difference between Curie temperature of martensite $T_C^M$ and Curie temperature of austenite $T_C^A$ was estimated. Influence of volume magnetostriction was considered in theoretical modeling in order to account for the existence of the magnetostructural phase transition over a wide range of compositions.

Physical reasons for the emergence of jumps during rotation of the magnetization of a two-sublattice ferrimagnet at low temperatures

It is shown that the contribution of the intersublattice exchange interaction to the magnetic anisotropy energy of a two-sublattice ferrimagnet can come only from higher order constants satisfying the condition 2K 2+3K 3+⋯>0. For this reason, for different signs of the first anisotropy constants of the sublattices, this contribution may cause a spontaneous spin-reorientation second-order transition, but not first-order transitions and jumps during magnetization rotation, which are associated with such a transition. Such jumps can appear only when the opposite inequality is satisfied, and the corresponding contribution to anisotropy can be ensured only by a fairly strong magnetoelastic interaction.