Real-space imaging of non-collinear antiferromagnetic order with a single spin magnetometer

ORAL

Abstract

Recently, Antiferromagnets have attracted considerable attention for next generation spintronic devices owing to their unique properties such as ultrafast magnetization dynamics and insensitivity to external magnetic field. To harness these functionalities, nanoscale control and imaging capabilities that are now routine for ferromagnets must be developed for antiferromagnetic (AF) systems. Here, using a non-invasive scanning nanomagnetometer based on a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect in diamond, we demonstrate real-space visualization of non-collinear AF order in a magnetic thin film, at room temperature [1]. We image a 70 nm long spin cycloid in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin film and also show electric field manipulation of the cycloid propagation direction. Besides highlighting the unique potential of NV magnetometry for imaging complex AF orders at the nanoscale, these results demonstrate how BiFeO3 can be used as a versatile platform for the design of reconfigurable nanoscale spin textures. [1] I. Gross et al., Nature, 549, 252 (2017).

*This research was supported by the European Research Council (ERC-StG-2014, IMAGINE).

Presenters

  • Mohammad Akhtar

    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier,CNRS
    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier, CNRS

Authors

  • Mohammad Akhtar

    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier,CNRS
    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier, CNRS
  • I. Gross

    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier,CNRS
    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier, CNRS
  • V. Garcia

    • Thales,CNRS
  • L.J. Martinez

    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier,CNRS
    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier, CNRS
  • S. Chouaieb

    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier,CNRS
    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier, CNRS
  • K. Garcia

    • Thales,CNRS
  • C. Carrétéro

    • Thales,CNRS
  • A. Barthélémy

    • Thales,CNRS
    • CNRS / Thales
  • P. Appel

    • University of Basel
  • P. Maletinsky

    • University of Basel
  • J.V. Kim

    • Université Paris-Sud,CNRS
  • Jean-Yves Chauleau

    • Synchrotron SOLEIL
  • N. Jaouen

    • Synchrotron SOLEIL
  • Michel Viret

    • CEA, CNRS
  • M. Bibes

    • Thales,CNRS
  • S. Fusil

    • Unite Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales
    • Thales,CNRS
  • Vincent Jacques

    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier,CNRS
    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier and CNRS
    • Laboratoire Charles Coulomb, Université de Montpellier, CNRS