arXiv subjects

T. S. Suraj

Publications and source records attributed to T. S. Suraj.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Room Temperature Strong Orbital Moments in Perpendicularly Magnetized Magnetic Insulator

The balance between the orbital and spin magnetic moments in a magnetic system is the heart of many intriguing phenomena. Here, we show experimental evidence of a large orbital moment, which competes with its spin counterpart in a ferrimagnetic insulator thulium iron garnet, Tm3Fe5O12. Leveraging element-specific X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), we establish that the dominant contribution to the orbital moment originates from 4f orbitals of Tm. Besides the large Tm orbital moment, intriguingly, our results also reveal a smaller but evident non-zero XMCD signal in the O K edge, suggesting additional spin-orbit coupling and exchange interactions with the nearest neighbour Fe atoms. The unquenched orbital moment is primarily responsible for a significant reduction in g-factor, typically 2 in transition metals, as determined independently using ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our findings reveal a non-linear reduction in the g-factor from 1.7 at 300 K to 1.56 at 200 K in Tm3Fe5O12 thin films. These results provide critical insights into the role of the f orbitals in long-range magnetic order and stimulate further exploration in orbitronics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Chiral damping of magnons

Chiral magnets have garnered significant interest due to the emergence of unique phenomena prohibited in inversion-symmetric magnets. While the equilibrium characteristics of chiral magnets have been extensively explored through the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), non-equilibrium properties like magnetic damping have received comparatively less attention. We present the inaugural direct observation of chiral damping through Brillouin light scattering (BLS) spectroscopy. Employing BLS spectrum analysis, we independently deduce the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and chiral damping, extracting them from the frequency shift and linewidth of the spectrum peak, respectively. The resulting linewidths exhibit clear odd symmetry with respect to the magnon wave vector, unambiguously confirming the presence of chiral damping. Our study introduces a novel methodology for quantifying chiral damping, with potential ramifications on diverse nonequilibrium phenomena within chiral magnets.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Stability and Character of Zero Field Skyrmionic States in Hybrid Magnetic Multilayer Nanodots

Ambient magnetic skyrmions stabilized in multilayer nanostructures are of immense interest due to their relevance to magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices for memory and unconventional computing applications. However, existing skyrmionic nanostructures built using conventional metallic or oxide multilayer nanodots are unable to concurrently fulfill the requirements of nanoscale skyrmion stability and feasibility of all-electrical readout and manipulation. Here, we develop a few-repeat hybrid multilayer platform consisting of metallic [Pt/CoB/Ir]3 and oxide [Pt/CoB/MgO] components that are coupled to evolve together as a single, composite stack. Zero-field (ZF) skyrmions with sizes as small as 50 nm are stabilized in the hybrid multilayer nanodots, which are smoothly modulated by up to 2.5x by varying CoB thickness and dot sizes. Meanwhile, skyrmion multiplets are also stabilized by small bias fields. Crucially, we observe higher order 'target' skyrmions with varying magnetization rotations in moderately-sized, low anisotropy nanodots. These results provide a viable route to realize long-sought skyrmionic MTJ devices and new possibilities for multi-state skyrmionic device concepts.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Spin re-orientation induced anisotropic magnetoresistance switching in LaCo$_{0.5}$Ni$_{0.5}$O$_{3-δ}$ thin films

Realization of novel functionalities by tuning magnetic interactions in rare earth perovskite oxide thin films opens up exciting technological prospects. Strain-induced tuning of magnetic interactions in rare earth cobaltates and nickelates is of central importance due to their versatility in electronic transport properties. Here we reported the spin re-orientation induced switching of anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) and its tunability with strain in epitaxial LaCo$_{0.5}$Ni$_{0.5}$O$_{3-δ}$ thin films across the ferromagnetic transition. Moreover, with strain tuning, we could observe a two-fold to four-fold symmetry crossover in AMR across the magnetic transition temperature. The magnetization measurements revealed an onset of ferromagnetic transition around 50 K, and a further reduction in temperature showed a subtle change in the magnetization dynamics, which reduced the ferromagnetic long-range ordering and introduced glassiness in the system. X-ray absorption and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy measurements over Co and Ni L edges revealed the Co spin state transition below the magnetic transition temperature leading to the AMR switching and also the presence of Ni$^{2+}$ and Co$^{4+}$ ions evidencing the charge transfer from Ni to Co ions. Our work demonstrated the tunability of magnetic interactions mediated electronic transport in cobaltate-nickelate thin films, which is relevant in understanding Ni-Co interactions in oxides for their technological applications such as in AMR sensors.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

All-Electrical Skyrmionic Bits in a Chiral Magnetic Tunnel Junction

Topological spin textures such as magnetic skyrmions hold considerable promise as robust, nanometre-scale, mobile bits for sustainable computing. A longstanding roadblock to unleashing their potential is the absence of a device enabling deterministic electrical readout of individual spin textures. Here we present the wafer-scale realization of a nanoscale chiral magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) hosting a single, ambient skyrmion. Using a suite of electrical and multi-modal imaging techniques, we show that the MTJ nucleates skyrmions of fixed polarity, whose large readout signal - 20-70% relative to uniform states - corresponds directly to skyrmion size. Further, the MTJ exploits complementary mechanisms to stabilize distinctly sized skyrmions at zero field, thereby realizing three nonvolatile electrical states. Crucially, it can write and delete skyrmions using current densities 1,000 times lower than state-of-the-art. These results provide a platform to incorporate readout and manipulation of skyrmionic bits across myriad device architectures, and a springboard to harness chiral spin textures for multi-bit memory and unconventional computing.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Quantifying symmetric exchange in ultrathin ferromagnetic films with chirality

The symmetric (Heisenberg) exchange interaction is fundamental to magnetism and assumes critical importance in designing magnetic materials for novel emergent phenomena and device applications. However, quantifying exchange is extremely challenging for ultrathin ($\sim$ 1 nm) magnetic films, as techniques and approximations reliably used for bulk materials are largely inapplicable in the two-dimensional (2D) limit. Here we present and contrast the measurement of exchange stiffness, $A$, by several methods on a series of five Co/Pt-based ultrathin ($1-2$ nm) films. We compare results from (a) spin-wave spectroscopy by Brillouin light scattering (BLS), (b) three analytical models describing the temperature dependence of magnetization obtained by magnetometry, (c) microscopic domain periodicity measurements and simulations, and (d) ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. While different methods present some qualitatively consistent trends across samples, we note, for any given sample, considerable differences (up to $5\times$) in the absolute values of $A$ across the techniques, consistent with discrepancies of $A$ reported in literature for nominally similar samples. We analyze possible sources of the discrepancies across various methods, notably including their relationship to the spin-wave dispersion, and the wave-vector ranges probed. We compare the strengths and limitations of the techniques, and outline directions for their future use in characterizing exchange interactions in ultrathin films.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Sign reversal of anomalous Hall conductivity and magnetoresistance in cubic non-collinear antiferromagnet Mn$_3$Pt thin films

The two dimensional kagome spin lattice structure of Mn atoms in the family of Mn$_3$X non-collinear antiferromagnets are providing substantial excitement in the exploration of Berry curvature physics and the associated non-trivial magnetotransport responses. Much of these studies are performed in the hexagonal systems, mainly Mn$_3$Sn and Mn$_3$Ge, with the kagome planes having their normal along the [001] direction. In this manuscript, we report our study in the cubic Mn$_3$Pt thin films with their kagome planes normal to the [111] crystal axis. Our studies reveal a hole conduction dominant Hall response with a non-monotonic temperature dependence of anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC), increasing from 9 $Ω^{-1}$cm$^{-1}$ at room temperature to 29 $Ω^{-1}$cm$^{-1}$ at 100 K, followed by a drop and unexpected sign-reversal at lower temperatures. Similar sign reversal is also observed in magnetoresistance measurements. We attribute this sign reversal to the transition from a Berry curvature dominated AHC at high temperature to a weak canted ferromagnetic AHC response at lower temperature, below 70 K, caused by the reorientation of Mn moments out of the kagome plane. Our above results in thin films of Mn$_3$Pt make advances in their integration with room temperature antiferromagnetic spintronics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Wohlleben Effect and Emergent Pi junctions in superconducting Boron doped Diamond thin films

Diamond is an excellent band insulator. However, boron (B) doping is known to induce superconductivity. We present two interesting effects in superconducting B doped diamond (BDD) thin films: i) Wohlleben effect (paramagnetic Meissner effect, PME) and ii) a low field spin glass like susceptibility anomaly. We have performed electrical and magnetic measurements (under pressure in one sample) at dopings (1.4 , 2.6 and 3.6) X 1021 cm-3, in a temperature range 2 - 10 K. PME, a low field anomaly in inhomogeneous superconductors could arise from flux trapping, flux compression, or for non-trivial reason such as emergent Josephson Pi junctions. Joint occurrence of PME and spin glass type anomalies points to possible emergence of Pi junctions. BDD is a disordered s-wave superconductor; and Pi junctions could be produced by spin flip scattering of spin half moments when present at weak superconducting regions (Bulaevski et al. 1978). A frustrated network of 0 and Pi junctions will result (Kusmartsev et al. 1992) in a distribution of spontaneous equilibrium supercurrents, a phase glass state. Anderson localized spin half spinons embedded in a metallic fluid (two fluid model of Bhatt et al.) could create Pi junction by spin flip scattering. Our findings are consistent with presence of Pi junctions, invoked to explain their (Bhattacharyya et al.) observation of certain resistance anomaly in BDD.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Effect of interfacial oxidation layer in spin pumping experiments on Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20}$/SrIrO$_3$ heterostructures

SrIrO$_3$ with its large spin-orbit coupling and low charge conductivity has emerged as a potential candidate for efficient spin-orbit torque magnetization control in spintronic devices. We here report on the influence of an interfacial oxide layer on spin pumping experiments in Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20}$ (NiFe)/SrIrO$_3$ bilayer heterostructures. To investigate this scenario we have carried out broadband ferromagnetic resonance (BBFMR) measurements, which indicate the presence of an interfacial antiferromagnetic oxide layer. We performed in-plane BBFMR experiments at cryogenic temperatures, which allowed us to simultaneously study dynamic spin pumping properties (Gilbert damping) and static magnetic properties (such as the effective magnetization and magnetic anisotropy). The results for NiFe/SrIrO$_3$ bilayer thin films were analyzed and compared to those from a NiFe/NbN/SrIrO$_3$ trilayer reference sample, where a spin-transparent, ultra-thin NbN layer was inserted to prevent oxidation of NiFe. At low temperatures, we observe substantial differences in the magnetization dynamics parameters of these samples, which can be explained by an antiferromagnetic interfacial layer in the NiFe/SrIrO$_3$ bilayers.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Tunable and Enhanced Rashba Spin-Orbit Coupling in Iridate-Manganite Heterostructures

Tailoring spin-orbit interactions and Coulomb repulsion are the key features to observe exotic physical phenomena such as magnetic anisotropy and topological spin texture at oxide interfaces. Our study proposes a novel platform for engineering the magnetism and spin-orbit coupling at LaMnO3/SrIrO3 (3d-5d oxide) interfaces by tuning the LaMnO3 growth conditions which controls the lattice displacement and spin-correlated interfacial coupling through charge transfer. We report on a tunable and enhanced interface-induced Rashba spin-orbit coupling and Elliot-Yafet spin relaxation mechanism in LaMnO3/SrIrO3 bilayer with change in the underlying magnetic order of LaMnO3. We also observed enhanced spin-orbit coupling strength in LaMnO3/SrIrO3 compared to previously reported SrIrO3 layers. The X-Ray spectroscopy measurement reveals the quantitative valence of Mn and their impact on charge transfer. Further, we performed angle-dependent magnetoresistance measurements, which show signatures of magnetic proximity effect in SrIrO3 while reflecting the magnetic order of LaMnO3. Our work thus demonstrates a new route to engineer the interface induced Rashba spin-orbit coupling and magnetic proximity effect in 3d-5d oxide interfaces which makes SrIrO3 an ideal candidate for spintronics applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗