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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
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Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains
Published on: July 20, 2022
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Efficient magnetic switching in a correlated spin glass
Juraj Krempaský1, Gunther Springholz2, Sunil Wilfred D'Souza3
1Photon Science Division, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland. juraj.krempasky@psi.ch.
Nature Communications
|October 1, 2023
Summary
Researchers discovered a new way to control magnetic order in ferroelectric semiconductors using low-energy current pulses. This method leverages magnetostochastic resonance for efficient and collective magnetization switching over large distances.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
- Spintronics
Background:
- The interaction between spin-orbit effects and magnetic ordering is crucial for developing advanced magnetic materials.
- Ferroelectric semiconductors offer potential for novel spintronic applications due to their coupled electrical and magnetic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate unique magnetic phenomena in thin multiferroic Germanium-Manganese Telluride (Ge$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$Te) films.
- To explore a novel method for controlling magnetization dynamics in these materials.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of thin multiferroic Ge$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$Te films.
- Application of low-energy current pulses to induce magnetostochastic resonance.
- Observation and analysis of magnetization switching and propagation dynamics.
Main Results:
- Observed unexpected switching of the ferrimagnetic order parameter under magnetostochastic resonance with significantly low current densities.
- Demonstrated coherent and collective spread of magnetic order over macroscopic distances following a switching event.
- Identified a correlated spin-glass state mediating the propagation of magnetic order.
Conclusions:
- The findings reveal a unique mechanism for controlling magnetization in ferroelectric semiconductors.
- A novel methodology for harnessing stochastic magnetization dynamics has been developed.
- These results pave the way for new applications in tunable spintronic devices.
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