arXiv subjects

P. D. Hatton

Publications and source records attributed to P. D. Hatton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Enhanced skyrmion metastability under applied strain in FeGe

Mechanical straining of skyrmion hosting materials has previously demonstrated increased phase stability through the expansion of the skyrmion equilibrium pocket. Additionally, metastable skyrmions can be generated via rapid field-cooling to form significant skyrmion populations at low temperatures. Using small-angle x-ray scattering and x-ray holographic imaging on a thermally strained 200 nm thick FeGe lamella, we observe temperature-induced strain effects on the structure and metastability of the skyrmion lattice. We find that in this sample orientation (H || [1 1 0]) with no strain, metastable skyrmions produced by field cooling through the equilibrium skyrmion pocket vanish from the sample upon dropping below the well known helical reorientation temperature. However, when strain is applied along [110] axis, and this procedure is repeated, a substantial volume fraction of metastable skyrmions persist upon cooling below this temperature down to 100 K. Additionally, we observe a large number of skyrmions retained after a complete magnetic field polarity reversal, implying that the metastable energy barrier protecting skyrmions from decay is enhanced.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Confinement of Skyrmions in Nanoscale FeGe Device-like Structures

Skyrmion-containing devices have been proposed as a promising solution for low energy data storage. These devices include racetrack or logic structures and require skyrmions to be confined in regions with dimensions comparable to the size of a single skyrmion. Here we examine Bloch skyrmions in FeGe device shapes using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM) to reveal the consequences of skyrmion confinement in a device-like structure. Dumbbell-shaped elements were created by focused ion beam (FIB) milling to provide regions where single skyrmions are confined adjacent to areas containing a skyrmion lattice. Simple block shapes of equivalent dimensions were also prepared to allow a direct comparison with skyrmion formation in a less complex, yet still confined, device geometry. The impact of applying a magnetic field and varying the temperature on the formation of skyrmions within the shapes was examined. This revealed that it is not just confinement within a small device structure that controls the position and number of skyrmions, but that a complex device geometry changes the skyrmion behaviour, including allowing skyrmions to form at lower applied magnetic fields than in simple shapes. This could allow methods to be developed to control both the position and number of skyrmions within device structures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

X-ray holographic imaging of magnetic surface spirals in FeGe lamellae

Isotropic helimagnets are known to host a diverse range of chiral magnetic states. In 2016, F.N. Rybakov et al. theorized the presence of a surface-pinned stacked spin spiral phase [F.N. Rybakov et al., 2016 New J. Phys. 18 045002], which has yet to be observed experimentally. Here we present experimental evidence for the observation of this state in lamellae of FeGe using resonant x-ray holographic imaging data and micromagnetic simulations. The identification of this state has significant implications for the stability of other coexisting spin textures, and will help complete our understanding of helimagnetic systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

X-Ray Imaging of Mixed States of Skyrmions and Helices in FeGe

We report scanning transmission X-ray microscopy of mixed helical and skyrmion magnetic states in thin FeGe lamellae. This imaging of the out-of-plane magnetism allows clear identification of the different magnetic states, and reveals details about the coexistence of helical and skyrmion states. In particular, our data show that finite length helices are continuously deformable down to the size of individual skyrmions and are hence topologically equivalent to skyrmions. Furthermore, we observe transition states between helical and skyrmion states across the thickness of the lamella that are evidence for frozen Bloch points in the sample after field cooling.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Experimental Evidence of a change of Exchange Anisotropy Sign with Temperature in Zn-Substituted Cu2OSeO3

We report small-angle neutron scattering from the conical state in a single crystal of Zn-substituted Cu2OSeO3. Using a 3D vector-field magnet to reorient the conical wavevector, our measurements show that the magnitude of the conical wavevector changes as a function of crystallographic direction. These changes are caused by the anisotropic exchange interaction (AEI), whose magnitude transitions from a maxima to a minima along the <111> and <100> crystallographic directions respectively. We further find that the AEI constant undergoes a change of sign from positive to negative with decreasing temperature. Unlike in the related compound FeGe, where similar behaviour of the AEI induces a reorientation of the helical wavevector, we show that the zero field helical wavevector in (Cu0.98Zn0.02)2OSeO3 remains along the <100> directions at all temperatures due to the competing fourth-order magnetocrystalline anisotropy becoming dominant at lower temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Charge Density Waves and Coplanar Magnetism in Gd2PdSi3

The intermetallic Gd2PdSi3 has recently generated a lot of excitement after reports that it hosts chiral magnetic nano-skyrmions despite its centrosymmetric crystal structure. Using magnetic-field-dependent polarized resonant elastic x-ray scattering (REXS), we find than an unexpected incommensurate charge density wave (CDW) appears below the ordering transition with a wavevector equal to that of the magnetic textures. Furthermore, we show these incommensurate magnetic textures in Gd2PdSi3 are highly anisotropic, with the vast majority of the spin modulation lying within the hexagonal ab-plane. This observation is not compatible with the previously suggested non-coplanar magnetic textures and coplanar alternatives are discussed. Our results thus refute the interpretation of the observed large anomalous Hall and Nernst effects in Gd2PdSi3 as arising from topologically-nontrivial magnetic skyrmions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Bloch point-mediated skyrmion annihilation in three dimensions

The creation and annihilation of magnetic skyrmions are mediated by three dimensional topological defects known as Bloch points. Investigation of such dynamical processes is important both for understanding the emergence of exotic topological spin textures, and for future engineering of skyrmions in technological applications. However, while the annihilation of skyrmions has been extensively investigated in two dimensions, in three dimensions the phase transitions are considerably more complex. We report field-dependent experimental measurements of metastable skyrmion lifetimes in an archetypal chiral magnet, revealing two distinct regimes. Comparison to supporting three-dimensional geodesic nudged elastic band simulations demonstrates that these correspond to skyrmion annihilation into either the helical or conical states, each exhibiting a different transition mechanism. The results highlight that the lowest energy magnetic configuration of the system plays a crucial role when considering the emergence of topological spin structures via defect-mediated dynamics, and their stability in future devices.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Stability and Metastability of Skyrmions in Thin Lamellae of Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$

We report small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of the skyrmion lattice in two 200~nm thick Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ lamellae aligned with the applied magnetic field parallel to the out of plane [110] or [100] crystallographic directions. Our measurements show that the equilibrium skyrmion phase in both samples is expanded significantly compared to bulk crystals, existing between approximately 30 and 50~K over a wide region of magnetic field. This skyrmion state is elliptically distorted at low fields for the [110] sample, and symmetric for the [100] sample, possibly due to crystalline anisotropy becoming more important at this sample thickness than it is in bulk samples. Furthermore, we find that a metastable skyrmion state can be observed at low temperature by field cooling through the equilibrium skyrmion pocket in both samples. In contrast to the behavior in bulk samples, the volume fraction of metastable skyrmions does not significantly depend on cooling rate. We show that a possible explanation for this is the change in the lowest temperature of the skyrmion state in this lamellae compared to bulk, without requiring different energetics of the skyrmion state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Pinning of Helimagnetic Phase Transitions in Zn-Substituted Skyrmion Host Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$

Magnetic skyrmions are nano-sized topological spin textures stabilized by a delicate balance of magnetic energy terms. The chemical substitution of the underlying crystal structure of skyrmion-hosting materials offers a route to manipulate these energy contributions, but also introduces additional effects such as disorder and pinning. While the effects of doping and disorder have been well studied in B20 metallic materials such as Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si and Mn$_{1-x}$Fe$_x$Si, the consequences of chemical substitution in the magnetoelectric insulator Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ have not been fully explored. In this work, we utilize a combination of AC magnetometry and small angle neutron scattering to investigate the magnetic phase transition dynamics in pristine and Zn-substituted Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$. The results demonstrate that the first order helical-conical phase transition exhibits two thermally separated behavioural regimes: at high temperatures, the helimagnetic domains transform by large-scale, continuous rotations, while at low temperatures, the two phases coexist. Remarkably, the effects of pinning in the substituted sample are less prevalent at low temperatures, compared to high temperatures, despite the reduction of available thermal activation energy. We attribute this behaviour to the large, temperature-dependent, cubic anisotropy unique to Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$, which becomes strong enough to overcome the pinning energy at low temperatures. Consideration and further exploration of these effects will be crucial when engineering skyrmion materials towards future applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Real-space imaging of confined magnetic skyrmion tubes

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically nontrivial particles with a potential application as information elements in future spintronic device architectures. While they are commonly portrayed as two dimensional objects, in reality magnetic skyrmions are thought to exist as elongated, tube-like objects extending through the thickness of the sample. Study of this skyrmion tube (SkT) state is highly relevant for investigating skyrmion metastability and for implementation in recently proposed magnonic computing. However, direct experimental imaging of skyrmion tubes has yet to be reported. Here, we demonstrate the first real-space observation of skyrmion tubes in a lamella of FeGe using resonant magnetic x-ray imaging and comparative micromagnetic simulations, confirming their extended structure. The formation of these structures at the edge of the sample highlights the importance of confinement and edge effects in the stabilisation of the SkT state, opening the door to further investigations into this unexplored dimension of the skyrmion spin texture.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Local magnetism, magnetic order and spin freezing in the 'nonmetallic metal' FeCrAs

We present the results of x-ray scattering and muon-spin relaxation ($μ^{+}$SR) measurements on the iron-pnictide compound FeCrAs. Polarized non-resonant magnetic x-ray scattering results reveal the 120$^\circ$ periodicity expected from the suggested three-fold symmetric, non-collinear antiferromagnetic structure. $μ^+$SR measurements indicate a magnetically ordered phase throughout the bulk of the material below $T_\mathrm{N}$=105(5) K. There are signs of fluctuating magnetism in a narrow range of temperatures above $T_\mathrm{N}$ involving low-energy excitations, while at temperatures well below $T_\mathrm{N}$ behaviour characteristic of freezing of dynamics is observed, likely reflecting the effect of disorder in our polycrystalline sample. Using density functional theory we propose a distinct muon stopping site in this compound and assess the degree of distortion induced by the implanted muon.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Measuring the Formation Energy Barrier of Skyrmions in Zinc Substituted Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$

We report small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements of the skyrmion lattice in (Cu$_{0.976}$Zn$_{0.024}$)$_2$OSeO$_3$ under the application of an electric field. These measurements show an expansion of the skyrmion lattice stability region with electric field similar to that seen in pristine Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$. Furthermore, using time-resolved SANS, we observe the slow formation of skyrmions after an electric or magnetic field is applied, which has not been observed in pristine Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ crystals. The measured formation times are dramatically longer than the corresponding skyrmion destruction times after the external field is removed, and increase exponentially from 100~s at 52.5~K to 10,000~s at 51.5~K. This thermally activated behaviour indicates an energy barrier for skyrmion formation of 1.57(2)~eV, the size of which demonstrates the huge cost for creating these complex chiral objects.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Increased lifetime of metastable skyrmions by doping

Previous observations of metastable magnetic skyrmions have shown that close to the equilibrium pocket the metastable state has a short lifetime, and therefore rapid cooling is required to generate a significant skyrmion population at low temperatures. Here, we report that the lifetime of metastable skyrmions in Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ is extended by a factor of 50 with the introduction of only 2.5% zinc doping, allowing over 50% of the population to survive when field-cooling at a rate of just 1 K/min. Our systematic study suggests that the lifetime enhancement is due to the removal of spins by the non-magnetic dopant, which entropically limits the number of skyrmion decay pathways. We expect that doping can be exploited to control the lifetime of the metastable SkL state in other chiral magnets, offering a method of engineering skyrmion materials towards application in future devices.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Origin of skyrmion lattice phase splitting in Zn-substituted Cu$_{2}$OSeO$_{3}$

We present an investigation into the structural and magnetic properties of Zn-substituted Cu$_{2}$OSeO$_{3}$, a system in which the skyrmion lattice (SkL) phase in the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram was previously seen to split as a function of increasing Zn concentration. We find that splitting of the SkL is only observed in polycrystalline samples and reflects the occurrence of several coexisting phases with different Zn content, each distinguished by different magnetic behaviour. No such multiphase behaviour is observed in single crystal samples.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Elucidation of the helical spin structure of FeAs

We present the results of resonant x-ray scattering measurements and electronic structure calculations on the monoarsenide FeAs. We elucidate details of the magnetic structure, showing the ratio of ellipticity of the spin helix is larger than previously thought, at 2.58(3), and reveal both a right-handed chirality and an out of plane component of the magnetic moments in the spin helix. We find that electronic structure calculations and analysis of the spin-orbit interaction are able to qualitatively account for this canting.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Transverse field muon-spin rotation signature of the skyrmion lattice phase in Cu2OSeO3

We present the results of transverse field (TF) muon-spin rotation (muSR) measurements on Cu2OSeO3, which has a skyrmion lattice (SL) phase. We measure the response of the TF muSR signal in that phase along with the surrounding ones, and suggest how the phases might be distinguished using the results of these measurements. Dipole field simulations support the conclusion that the muon is sensitive to the SL via the TF lineshape and, based on this interpretation, our measurements suggest that the SL is quasistatic on a timescale tau > 100 ns.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

An x-ray diffraction study of the temperature-induced structural phase transitions in SmVO3

Through powder x-ray diffraction we have investigated the structural behavior of SmVO3, in which orbital and magnetic degrees of freedom are believed to be closely coupled to the crystal lattice. We have found, contrary to previous reports, that SmVO3 exists in a single, monoclinic, phase below 200 K. The associated crystallographic distortion is then stabilized through the magnetostriction that occurs below 134 K. The crystal structure has been refined using synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction data measured throughout the structural phase diagram, showing a substantial Jahn-Teller distortion of the VO6 octahedra in the monoclinic phase, compatible with the expected G-type orbital order. Changes in the vanadium ion crystal field due to the structural and magnetic transitions have then been probed by resonant x-ray diffraction.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

The magnetic structures of the anisotropic inter-metallic compounds Er$_2$CoGa$_8$ and Tm$_2$CoGa$_8$

Two members of the iso-structural R$_2$CoGa$_8$ inter-metallic series, Er$_2$CoGa$_8$ and Tm$_2$CoGa$_8$, have been studied by powder neutron diffraction. Antiferromagnetic ordering of the rare-earth sublattices was confirmed to occur at 3.0 K and 2.0 K, respectively. Furthermore, determination of the critical exponent showed Er$_2$CoGa$_8$ to adopt a 3D universality class. In spite of a common magnetic easy axis and similar structural characteristics, the antiferromagnetic structures were found to be different for the erbium and thulium based compounds. The corresponding magnetic space groups were determined to be $P_{2a}mmm'$ and $P_Cmmm$. The difference in magnetic structures is discussed based on crystal electric field effects that are known to be prevalent in such materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗