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Updated: May 25, 2026
09:06
Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Published on: March 24, 2019
Emergent rotational symmetries in disordered magnetic domain patterns
Run Su1, Keoki A Seu, Daniel Parks
1Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|January 17, 2012
Summary
Uniaxial systems with labyrinthine domains surprisingly show hidden rotational symmetries. These emergent symmetries in CoPd/IrMn heterostructures depend on magnetic fields and magnetization history.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
- Magnetism
Background:
- Uniaxial systems typically form labyrinthine magnetic domains with short-range order.
- Macroscopically isotropic systems are not expected to exhibit precise symmetries.
- System frustration leads to numerous metastable configurations of comparable energy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for pattern formation in frustrated uniaxial systems under external driving.
- To reveal hidden symmetries within the labyrinthine domains of CoPd/IrMn heterostructures.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing soft x-ray speckle diffraction to analyze labyrinthine domain structures.
- Examining the influence of applied magnetic field, magnetization history, and scattering wave vector on domain symmetry.
Main Results:
- Soft x-ray speckle diffraction revealed diverse hidden rotational symmetries in CoPd/IrMn heterostructures.
- These symmetries are dependent on applied magnetic field, magnetization history, and scattering wave vector.
- Symmetry maps displayed controllable structures influenced by magnetic field and exchange bias.
Conclusions:
- Labyrinthine domains in CoPd/IrMn heterostructures exhibit emergent order through hidden rotational symmetries.
- These symmetries offer a new perspective on controlling magnetic domain patterns.
- The findings suggest potential for novel applications in magnetic data storage or spintronics.
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