arXiv subjects

David Spenato

Publications and source records attributed to David Spenato.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Light-modulated exchange bias in multiferroic heterostructures

Magnetic straintronics, the strain-mediated control of magnetic anisotropy, has emerged as a key direction for next-generation energy-efficient technologies. In multiferroic heterostructures, magnetoelectric coupling is typically achieved by applying an electric field on a ferroelectric phase, inducing strain through the converse piezoelectric effect, which is then transferred to the adjacent ferromagnetic phase. As an alternative, strain can be remotely modulated through the photostrictive effect induced by light. While light-driven control of magnetic anisotropy has been explored, optical modulation of more complex phenomena such as exchange bias remains largely unaddressed. Here, we demonstrate significant light-induced modulation of exchange bias and magnetization switching at room temperature in a Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PMN-PZT)/Fe80Ga20(FeGa)/Ir20Mn80(IrMn) multiferroic heterostructure, driven by visible-light-photostriction. The magnetization state correlates with the light intensity, enabling multi-level states with light power densities as low as 0.1 W cm-2. These findings suggest a promising route toward low-power, multistate, and wireless opto-magnetic memory applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Static and dynamic magnetization control of extrinsic multiferroics by the converse magneto-photostrictive effect

In this work, photostrictive manipulations of static and dynamic magnetic properties are demonstrated in an extrinsic multiferroic composite. The photostriction is achieved with visible light in the blue region of the spectrum. The composites consist of 5 nm or 10 nm magnetostrictive Fe$_{81}$Ga$_{19}$ thin films coupled to a piezoelectric (011)-Pb(Mg$_{1/3}$Nb$_{2/3}$)O$_3$-Pb(Zr,Ti)O$_3$ substrate. Angular dependent magnetization reversals properties are largely enhanced or reduced under a converse magneto-photostrictive effect (CMPE). The CMPE strength is analysed with a novel coefficient named the converse magneto-photostrictive coupling coefficient. This coefficient is proposed as a general approach to analyse and to compare different extrinsic multiferroics under the converse magneto-photostrictive effect. Its thickness dependence reveals that the CMPE strength decreases with an increase of the Fe$_{81}$Ga$_{19}$ thickness. Experimental evidence for a control of dynamic magnetic properties under CMPE is then revealed by ferromagnetic resonance measurements. Resonant fields are shifted under CMPE, whereas their linewidths remain constant. Furthermore, resonant field shifts can be either positive or negative depending on the in-plane angle. The largest shift under CMPE of +5.7 % is obtained for the 5 nm sample. Our study shows that the CMPE provides an efficient approach for a control of not only the static but also the dynamic magnetic properties in extrinsic multiferroics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Electrical manipulation of magnetic anisotropy in a Fe$_{81}$Ga$_{19}$/PMN-PZT magnetoelectric multiferroic composite

Magnetoelectric composites are an important class of multiferroic materials that pave the way towards a new generation of multifunctional devices directly integrable in data storage technology and spintronics. This study focuses on strain-mediated electrical manipulation of magnetization in an extrinsic multiferroic. The composite includes 5 nm or 60 nm Fe$_{81}$Ga$_{19}$ thin films coupled to a piezoelectric (011)-PMN-PZT. The magnetization reversal study reveals a converse magnetoelectric coefficient $α_\mathrm{CME,max} \approx 2.7 \times {10^{-6}}$ s.m$^{-1}$ at room temperature. This reported value of $α_\mathrm{CME}$ is among the highest so far compared to previous reports of single-phase multiferroics as well as composites. An angular dependency of $α_\mathrm{CME}$ is also shown for the first time, arising from the intrinsic magnetic anisotropy of FeGa. The highly efficient magnetoelectric composite FeGa/PMN-PZT demonstrates drastic modifications of the in-plane magnetic anisotropy, with an almost 90$^{\circ}$ rotation of the preferential anisotropy axis in the thinner films under an electric field E = 10.8 kV.cm$^{-1}$. Also, the influence of thermal strain on the bilayer's magnetic coercivity is compared to that of a reference bilayer FeGa/Glass at cryogenic temperatures. A different evolution is observed as a function of temperature, revealing a substrate thermo-mechanical influence which has not yet been reported in FeGa thin films coupled to a piezoelectric material.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Magnetization reversal and spin dynamics exchange in biased F/AF bilayers probed with complex permeability spectra

The spin dynamics of the ferromagnetic pinned layer of ferro-antiferromagnetic coupled NiFe/MnNi bilayers is investigated in a broad frequency range (30 MHz-6 GHz). A phenomenological model based on the Landau-Lifshitz equation for the complex permeability of the F/AF bilayer is proposed. The experimental results are compared to theoretical predictions. We show that the resonance frequencies, measured during the magnetization, are likewise hysteretic.

cond-mat↗