Journal article
Handle on the antiferromagnetic spin structure of NiO using a ferromagnetic adlayer
- Abstract:
- Antiferromagnets (AFs) are characterized by spin structures that are resistant to external magnetic fields, rendering them ideal for persistent information storage but challenging to control. This study demonstrates that a thin ferromagnetic adlayer can serve as a magnetic ‘lever’ to provide a strong handle on the spin texture of an adjacent antiferromagnet. In bilayers composed of NiO(001) and Co, the expected exchange bias effect—a unidirectional shift in the Co hysteresis due to coupling with NiO—is notably absent. Instead, a strong interfacial coupling is observed, causing the NiO to partially follow the magnetization of Co under an applied magnetic field. Using x-ray magnetic linear dichroism, we detect an inversion of dichroism, indicating a reorientation of the Néel vector in NiO. X-ray spectromicroscopy imaging further reveals a direct correlation between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic domain structures. These findings are explained using a toy model that distinguishes between stable and unstable AF domains, highlighting the dynamic interplay between NiO and the Co adlayer in the presence of a magnetic field.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 2.4MB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1103/physrevmaterials.9.014408
Authors
+ Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
More from this funder
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/0439y7842
- Grant:
- 2604894
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society
- Journal:
- Physical Review Materials More from this journal
- Volume:
- 9
- Issue:
- 1
- Article number:
- 014408
- Publication date:
- 2025-01-27
- Acceptance date:
- 2025-01-10
- DOI:
- EISSN:
-
2475-9953
- Language:
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English
- Pubs id:
-
2080975
- Local pid:
-
pubs:2080975
- Deposit date:
-
2025-01-28
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Heppell et al
- Copyright date:
- 2025
- Rights statement:
- ©2025 The Authors. Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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