arXiv subjects

A. J. Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to A. J. Ferguson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The Effects of Cobalt Doping on the Skyrmion Hosting Material Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$

Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ has fascinating magnetic phases that can be easily manipulated through chemical doping. In this work, we report on the synthesis and characterization of Co-doped Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ and its influence on both the atomic and magnetic structure. Polycrystalline (Cu$_{1_-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$OSeO$_3$ samples with 0 < x < 0.1 were synthesized and the presence of Co was confirmed via elemental analysis. Using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution neutron powder diffraction, the incorporation of Co$^{2+}$ into the Cu2 sites was confirmed. Co-doping led to an expansion to the unit cell but shows no apparent changes in bond lengths and angles in the crystal structure. Magnetization measurements showed that the incorporation of Co$^{2+}$ into the Cu2 site led to significant changes to the magnetic ordering of the material. Including an increase to the critical fields, the lowering of the critical temperature of the helimagnetic phase, and both a lowering and expansion of the skyrmion pocket temperatures. Lastly, small-angle neutron scattering was used to probe the magnetic structures hosted by the material. It was found that upon doping, the skyrmion lattice nucleates at lower temperatures as well as stabilized over a large temperature range. The observed results highlight the effects of incorporating a magnetic ion into the crystal structure and how it affects the internal magnetic structures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Universality Class Transition Across the Helimagnetic Ordering in Te-doped Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$

Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ is a multiferroic insulating chiral magnet which exhibits various magnetic orderings at different conditions. The positions of these magnetic phase transitions are known to be sensitive to chemical substitution. Here, we present a universality class analysis of the Cu$_2$OSe$_{1-x}$Te$_x$O$_3$ with $(0\leq x \leq 0.1)$. Tellurium is a non-magnetic ion which, upon substitution into the selenium positions of the structure, applies a positive chemical pressure and expands the crystal lattice. Our SANS and magnetometry data indicate that Te inclusion lowers the paramagnetic to helical ordering temperature and the critical field required for the conical to field polarised phase transition. By using the Heat-map Modified Iteration Method that evaluates critical behaviour on both sides of the transition, we show that the Heisenberg to Ising universality class transition of the initial ordering is robust to internal chemical pressure. Additionally, we attribute the decreases with doping in both critical temperature and critical field to be due to decreases in the strength of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya and Symmetric Exchange Interactions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Monitoring AGNs with H$β$ Asymmetry. IV. First Reverberation Mapping Results of 14 AGNs

We report first-time reverberation mapping results for 14 AGNs from the ongoing Monitoring AGNs with H$β$ Asymmetry campaign (MAHA). These results utilize optical spectra obtained with the Long Slit Spectrograph on the Wyoming Infrared 2.3m Telescope between 2017 November-2023 May. MAHA combines long-duration monitoring with high cadence. We report results from multiple observing seasons for 9 of the 14 objects. These results include H$β$ time lags, supermassive black hole masses, and velocity-resolved time lags. The velocity-resolved lags allow us to investigate the kinematics of the broad-line region.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2023

Broad-line region in NGC 4151 monitored by two decades of reverberation mapping campaigns. I. Evolution of structure and kinematics

We report the results of long-term reverberation mapping (RM) campaigns of the nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN) NGC 4151, spanning from 1994 to 2022, based on archived observations of the FAST Spectrograph Publicly Archived Programs and our new observations with the 2.3m telescope at the Wyoming Infrared Observatory. We reduce and calibrate all the spectra in a consistent way, and derive light curves of the broad H$β$ line and 5100\,Å continuum. Continuum light curves are also constructed using public archival photometric data to increase sampling cadences. We subtract the host galaxy contamination using {\it HST} imaging to correct fluxes of the calibrated light curves. Utilizing the long-term archival photometric data, we complete the absolute flux-calibration of the AGN continuum. We find that the H$β$ time delays are correlated with the 5100\,Å luminosities as $τ_{\rm Hβ}\propto L_{5100}^{0.46\pm0.16}$. This is remarkably consistent with Bentz et al. (2013)'s global size-luminosity relationship of AGNs. Moreover, the data sets for five of the seasons allow us to obtain the velocity-resolved delays of the H$β$ line, showing diverse structures (outflows, inflows and disks). Combining our results with previous independent measurements, we find the measured dynamics of the H$β$ broad-line region (BLR) are possibly related to the long-term trend of the luminosity. There is also a possible additional $\sim$1.86 years time lag between the variation in BLR radius and luminosity. These results suggest that dynamical changes in the BLR may be driven by the effects of radiation pressure.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Random telegraph signal analysis with a recurrent neural network

We use an artificial neural network to analyze asymmetric noisy random telegraph signals (RTSs), and extract underlying transition rates. We demonstrate that a long short-term memory neural network can vastly outperform conventional methods, particularly for noisy signals. Our technique gives reliable results as the signal-to-noise ratio approaches one, and over a wide range of underlying transition rates. We apply our method to random telegraph signals generated by a superconducting double dot based photon detector, allowing us to extend our measurement of quasiparticle dynamics to new temperature regimes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Negative spin-Hall angle and anisotropic spin-orbit torques in epitaxial IrMn

A spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance study is performed in epitaxial $\mathrm{Fe / Ir_{15}Mn_{85}}$ bilayers with different Fe thicknesses. We measure a negative spin-Hall angle of a few percent in the antiferromagnetic IrMn in contrast to previously reported positive values. A large spin-orbit field with Rashba symmetry opposing the Oersted field is also present. Magnitudes of measured spin-orbit torques depend on the crystallographic direction of current and are correlated with the exchange bias direction set during growth. We suggest that the uncompensated moments at the Fe / IrMn interface are responsible for the observed anisotropy. Our findings highlight the importance of crystalline and magnetic structures for the spin-Hall effect in antiferromagnets.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Cooper pair tunnelling and quasiparticle poisoning in a galvanically isolated superconducting double dot

We increase the isolation of a superconducting double dot from its environment by galvanically isolating it from any electrodes. We probe it using high frequency reflectometry techniques, find 2e-periodic behaviour, and characterise the energy structure of its charge states. By modelling the response of the device, we determine the quasiparticle poisoning rate to be significantly worse than that of a unisolated double dot, and conclude that quasiparticle exchange between the dot and the leads is an important relaxation mechanism.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Thickness dependence study of current-driven ferromagnetic resonance in Y3Fe5O12/heavy metal bilayers

We use ferromagnetic resonance to study the current-induced torques in YIG/heavy metal bilayers. YIG samples with thickness varying from 14.8 nm to 80 nm, with Pt or Ta thin film on top, are measured by applying a microwave current into the heavy metals and measuring the longitudinal DC voltage generated by both spin rectification and spin pumping. From a symmetry analysis of the FMR lineshape and its dependence on YIG thickness, we deduce that the Oersted field dominates over spin-transfer torque in driving magnetization dynamics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Triple-resonant Brillouin light scattering in magneto-optical cavities

An enhancement in Brillouin light scattering of optical photons with magnons is demonstrated in magneto-optical whispering gallery mode resonators tuned to a triple resonance point. This occurs when both the input and output optical modes are resonant with those of the whispering gallery resonator, with a separation given by the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) frequency. The identification and excitation of specific optical modes allows us to gain a clear understanding of the mode-matching conditions. A selection rule due to wavevector matching leads to an intrinsic single-sideband excitation. Strong suppression of one sideband is essential for one-to-one frequency mapping in coherent optical-to-microwave conversion.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Reconfigurable quadruple quantum dots in a silicon nanowire transistor

We present a novel reconfigurable metal-oxide-semiconductor multi-gate transistor that can host a quadruple quantum dot in silicon. The device consist of an industrial quadruple-gate silicon nanowire field-effect transistor. Exploiting the corner effect, we study the versatility of the structure in the single quantum dot and the serial double quantum dot regimes and extract the relevant capacitance parameters. We address the fabrication variability of the quadruple-gate approach which, paired with improved silicon fabrication techniques, makes the corner state quantum dot approach a promising candidate for a scalable quantum information architecture.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Exchange magnon induced resistance asymmetry in permalloy spin-Hall oscillators

We investigate magnetization dynamics in a spin-Hall oscillator using a direct current measurement as well as conventional microwave spectrum analysis. When the current applies an anti-damping spin-transfer torque, we observe a change in resistance which we ascribe to the excitation of incoherent exchange magnons. A simple model is developed based on the reduction of the effective saturation magnetization, quantitatively explaining the data. The observed phenomena highlight the importance of exchange magnons on the operation of spin-Hall oscillators.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Magneto-optical coupling in whispering gallery mode resonators

We demonstrate that yttrium iron garnet microspheres support optical whispering gallery modes similar to those in non-magnetic dielectric materials. The direction of the ferromagnetic moment tunes both the resonant frequency via the Voigt effect as well as the degree of polarization rotation via the Faraday effect. An understanding of the magneto-optical coupling in whispering gallery modes, where the propagation direction rotates with respect to the magnetization, is fundamental to the emerging field of cavity optomagnonics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Room-temperature spin-orbit torque in NiMnSb

Materials that crystalize in diamond-related lattices, with Si and GaAs as their prime examples, are at the foundation of modern electronics. Simultaneoulsy, the two atomic sites in the unit cell of these crystals form inversion partners which gives rise to relativistic non-equilibrium spin phenomena highly relevant for magnetic memories and other spintronic devices. When the inversion-partner sites are occupied by the same atomic species, electrical current can generate local spin polarization with the same magnitude and opposite sign on the two inversion-partner sites. In CuMnAs, which shares this specific crystal symmetry of the Si lattice, the effect led to the demonstration of electrical switching in an antiferromagnetic memory at room temperature. When the inversion-partner sites are occupied by different atoms, a non-zero global spin-polarization is generated by the applied current which can switch a ferromagnet, as reported at low temperatures in the diluted magnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As. Here we demonstrate the effect of the global current-induced spin polarization in a counterpart crystal-symmetry material NiMnSb which is a member of the broad family of magnetic Heusler compounds. It is an ordered high-temperature ferromagnetic metal whose other favorable characteristics include high spin-polarization and low damping of magnetization dynamics. Our experiments are performed on strained single-crystal epilayers of NiMnSb grown on InGaAs. By performing all-electrical ferromagnetic resonance measurements in microbars patterned along different crystal axes we detect room-temperature spin-orbit torques generated by effective fields of the Dresselhaus symmetry. The measured magnitude and symmetry of the current-induced torques are consistent with our relativistic density-functional theory calculations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Electrical manipulation of a ferromagnet by an antiferromagnet

We demonstrate that an antiferromagnet can be employed for a highly efficient electrical manipulation of a ferromagnet. In our study we use an electrical detection technique of the ferromagnetic resonance driven by an in-plane ac-current in a NiFe/IrMn bilayer. At room temperature, we observe antidamping-like spin torque acting on the NiFe ferromagnet, generated by the in-plane current driven through the IrMn antiferromagnet. A large enhancement of the torque, characterized by an effective spin-Hall angle exceeding most heavy transition metals, correlates with the presence of the exchange-bias field at the NiFe/IrMn interface. It highlights that, in addition to strong spin-orbit coupling, the antiferromagnetic order in IrMn governs the observed phenomenon.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Cavity mediated coherent coupling of magnetic moments

We demonstrate the long range strong coupling of magnetostatic modes in spatially separated ferromagnets mediated by a microwave frequency cavity. Two spheres of yttrium iron garnet are embedded in the cavity and their magnetostatic modes probed using a dispersive measurement technique. We find they are strongly coupled to each other even when detuned from the cavity modes. We investigate the dependence of the magnet-magnet coupling on the cavity detuning $Δ$, and find a $1/Δ$ dependence also characteristic of cavity-coupled superconducting qubits. Dark states of the coupled magnetostatic modes of the system are observed, and ascribed to mismatches between the symmetries of the modes and the drive field.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Dispersive read-out of ferromagnetic resonance for strongly coupled magnons and microwave photons

We demonstrate the dispersive measurement of ferromagnetic resonance in a yttrium iron garnet sphere embedded within a microwave cavity. The reduction in the longitudinal magnetization at resonance is measured as a frequency shift in the cavity mode coupled to the sphere. This measurement is a result of the intrinsic non-linearity in magnetization dynamics, indicating a promising route towards experiments in magnon cavity quantum electro-dynamics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Identification of spin wave modes strongly coupled to a co-axial cavity

We demonstrate, at room temperature, the strong coupling of the fundamental and non-uniform magnetostatic modes of an yttrium iron garnet (YIG) ferrimagnetic sphere to the electromagnetic modes of a co-axial cavity. The well-defined field profile within the cavity yields a specific coupling strength for each magnetostatic mode. We experimentally measure the coupling strength for the different magnetostatic modes and, by calculating the expected coupling strengths, are able to identify the modes themselves.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Dispersively detected Pauli Spin-Blockade in a Silicon Nanowire Field-Effect Transistor

We report the dispersive readout of the spin state of a double quantum dot formed at the corner states of a silicon nanowire field-effect transistor. Two face-to-face top-gate electrodes allow us to independently tune the charge occupation of the quantum dot system down to the few-electron limit. We measure the charge stability of the double quantum dot in DC transport as well as dispersively via in-situ gate-based radio frequency reflectometry, where one top-gate electrode is connected to a resonator. The latter removes the need for external charge sensors in quantum computing architectures and provides a compact way to readout the dispersive shift caused by changes in the quantum capacitance during interdot charge transitions. Here, we observe Pauli spin-blockade in the high-frequency response of the circuit at finite magnetic fields between singlet and triplet states. The blockade is lifted at higher magnetic fields when intra-dot triplet states become the ground state configuration. A lineshape analysis of the dispersive phase shift reveals furthermore an intradot valley-orbit splitting $Δ_{vo}$ of 145 $μ$eV. Our results open up the possibility to operate compact CMOS technology as a singlet-triplet qubit and make split-gate silicon nanowire architectures an ideal candidate for the study of spin dynamics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗