Growth of CuMnAs by molecular beam epitaxy: Control over structure and properties

ORAL

Abstract

Antiferromagnetic materials have recently attracted significant attention in connection with the discovery of a way to electrically manipulate their magnetic ordering [1]. Especially magnetic reorientation of tetragonal CuMnAs layers by electrical current has potential for future industrial applications of antiferromagnetic memories [2]. We will present a detailed strategy for growth of CuMnAs by molecular beam epitaxy, while focusing on crystallinity of the grown thin films. These typically contain different densities of specific structural defects, which likely influence their electrical and magnetic properties. This, together with ageing in ambient conditions and siginificant surface roughness complicates practical implementations of CuMnAs thin films. We will show how careful tuning of the growth conditions improves the structural properties of the material and how growth parameters are reflected in conductivity, Hall coefficient and effectivity of Néel vector manipulation.

[1] T. Jungwirth, X. Marti, P. Wadley, and J. Wunderlich, Nat. Nanotech. 11, 231-241 (2016)
[2] P. Wadley, B. Howells, J. Zelezný, et al., Science 351, 587-590 (2016)

*This work is supported by the Czech Ministry of Education LNSM-LNSpin, the EU FET Open RIA Grant no. 766566 and Grant GA UK no. 886137.

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Presenters

  • Filip Krizek

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Authors

  • Filip Krizek

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Zdenek Kaspar

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Martin Brajer

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Jan Zubáč

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Aliaksei Vetushka

    • Department of Thin Films and Nanostructure, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • João Godinho

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Dominik Kriegner

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Zbyněk Šobán

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Richard Champion

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham

  • Peter Wadley

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham

  • Kamil Olejník

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Tomas Jungwirth

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physic, ASCR, Prague
    • Institute of Solid State Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences
    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences

  • Vít Novák

    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physic, ASCR, Prague
    • Department of Spintronics and Nanoelectronics, Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences