A. Uri | Searcharxiv

arXiv2020

SQUID-on-tip with single-electron spin sensitivity for high-field and ultra-low temperature nanomagnetic imaging

Scanning nanoscale superconducting quantum interference devices (nanoSQUIDs) are of growing interest for highly sensitive quantitative imaging of magnetic, spintronic, and transport properties of low-dimensional systems. Utilizing specifically designed grooved quartz capillaries pulled into a sharp pipette, we have fabricated the smallest SQUID-on-tip (SOT) devices with effective diameters down to 39 nm. Integration of a resistive shunt in close proximity to the pipette apex combined with self-aligned deposition of In and Sn, have resulted in SOT with a flux noise of 42 n$Φ_0$Hz$^{-1/2}$, yielding a record low spin noise of 0.29 $μ_B$Hz$^{-1/2}$. In addition, the new SOTs function at sub-Kelvin temperatures and in high magnetic fields of over 2.5 T. Integrating the SOTs into a scanning probe microscope allowed us to image the stray field of a single Fe$_3$O$_4$ nanocube at 300 mK. Our results show that the easy magnetization axis direction undergoes a transition from the (111) direction at room temperature to an in-plane orientation, which could be attributed to the Verwey phase transition in Fe$_3$O$_4$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Observation of superparamagnetism in coexistence with quantum anomalous Hall C=$\pm$1 and C=0 Chern states

Simultaneous transport and scanning nanoSQUID-on-tip magnetic imaging studies in Cr-(Bi,Sb)$_2$Te$_3$ modulation-doped films reveal the presence of superparamagnetic order within the quantum anomalous Hall regime. In contrast to the expectation that a long-range ferromagnetic order is required for establishing the quantum anomalous Hall state, superparamagnetic dynamics of weakly interacting nanoscale magnetic islands is observed both in the plateau transition regions as well as within the fully quantized C=$\pm$1 Chern plateaus. Modulation doping of the topological insulator films is found to give rise to significantly larger superparamagnetic islands as compared to uniform magnetic doping, evidently leading to enhanced robustness of the quantum anomalous Hall effect. Nonetheless, even in this more robust quantum state, attaining full quantization of transport coefficients requires magnetic alignment of at least 95% of the superparamagnetic islands. The superparamagnetic order is also found within the incipient C=0 zero Hall plateau, which may host an axion state if the top and bottom magnetic layers are magnetized in opposite directions. In this regime, however, a significantly lower level of island alignment is found in our samples, hindering the formation of the axion state. Comprehension and control of superparamagnetic dynamics is thus a key factor in apprehending the fragility of the quantum anomalous Hall state and in enhancing the endurance of the different quantized states to higher temperatures for utilization of robust topological protection in novel devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗