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Dislocation-Driven Relaxation Processes at the Conical to Helical Phase Transition in FeGe.
Peggy Schoenherr1,2,3, Mariia Stepanova4, Erik Nikolai Lysne4
1Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Magnetic topological defects, like edge dislocations, influence helimagnetic structure formation in FeGe. Their motion, though fast, is slowed by pinning sites, impacting magnetic order over minutes.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Topological spin textures are crucial for magnetic material properties.
- Chiral magnets exhibit complex magnetic ordering.
- Understanding phase transitions is key to controlling magnetic behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate relaxation mechanisms during the conical-to-helical phase transition in FeGe.
- Elucidate the role of magnetic topological defects (edge dislocations) in helimagnetic structure formation.
- Analyze the dynamics and impact of edge dislocation motion on nanoscale spin structures.
Main Methods:
- Macroscopic ac susceptibility measurements.
- Surface-sensitive magnetic force microscopy.
- Micromagnetic simulations.
Main Results:
- Edge dislocation motion significantly impacts the local formation of stable helimagnetic spin structures.
- Simulations predict dislocation velocities up to 100 m/s.
- Experimental observations show dislocation dynamics disturb magnetic order on minute timescales due to pinning sites.
Conclusions:
- Dislocation motion profoundly affects nanoscale spin structures in chiral magnets.
- Pinning sites govern the observable dynamics of magnetic topological defects.
- This study reveals hidden effects on helimagnetic domain and domain wall formation.
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