Ref HAL: hal-04237859_v1
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02875
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In the room-temperature magnetoelectric multiferroic, BiFeO3, the non-collinear antiferromagnetic state is coupled to the ferroelectric order, opening applications for low-power electric-field-controlled magnetic devices. While several strategies have been explored to simplify the ferroelectric landscape, here we directly stabilize a single domain ferroelectric and spin cycloid state in epitaxial BiFeO3(111) thin films grown on orthorhombic DyScO3(011). Comparing with films grown on SrTiO3(111), we identify anisotropic in-plane strain as a powerful handle to tailor the single antiferromagnetic state. In this single domain multiferroic state, we establish the thickness limit of the coexisting electric and magnetic orders and directly visualize the suppression of the spin cycloid induced by the magnetoelectric interaction below the ultrathin limit of 1.4 nanometers. This as-grown single domain multiferroic configuration in BiFeO3 thin films opens an avenue both for fundamental investigations and for electrically-controlled non-collinear antiferromagnetic spintronics.

Ref HAL: hal-03656679_v1
DOI: 10.1103/physrevapplied.17.044051
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BiFeO3 is a rich room-temperature multiferroic material in which noncollinear antiferromagnetic spin cycloids can be deterministically controlled by an electric field through the magnetoelectric interaction, opening perspectives for low-power reconfigurable antiferromagnetic spintronics. Using a commercial scanning nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) magnetometer, we are able to image two different types of spin cycloids stabilized in strain-engineered BiFeO3 epitaxial thin films. We show that, in these samples harboring two ferroelectric variants, each ferroelectric domain is coupled to a single spin cycloid, giving rise to a zigzag magnetic pattern. These ferroelectric domains can be manipulated at the local scale by piezoresponse force microscopy, allowing the design of micron-sized single domains. Thanks to its coupled optical microscope and fast-imaging capabilities, the scanning N-V magnetometer enables a quick repositioning in such areas of interest. Finally, quantitative imaging on single ferroelectric domains provides insights into the physical parameters of each spin-cycloid type and their impact on the magnetic-stray-field measurements.

Ref HAL: hal-03659802_v1
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.187201
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We report on the formation of topological defects emerging from the cycloidal antiferromagnetic order at the surface of bulk BiFeO3 crystals. Combining reciprocal and real-space magnetic imaging techniques, we first observe, in a single ferroelectric domain, the coexistence of antiferromagnetic domains in which the antiferromagnetic cycloid propagates along different wave vectors. We then show that the direction of these wave vectors is not strictly locked to the preferred crystallographic axes as continuous rotations bridge different wave vectors. At the junctions between the magnetic domains, we observe topological line defects identical to those found in a broad variety of lamellar physical systems with rotational symmetries. Our work establishes the presence of these magnetic objects at room temperature in the multiferroic antiferromagnet BiFeO3, offering new possibilities for their use in spintronics

Ref HAL: hal-03177332_v1
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20995-x
WoS: WOS:000617330000011
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Antiferromagnetic materials are promising platforms for next-generation spintronics owing to their fast dynamics and high robustness against parasitic magnetic fields. However, nanoscale imaging of the magnetic order in such materials with zero net magnetization remains a major experimental challenge. Here we show that non-collinear antiferromagnetic spin textures can be imaged by probing the magnetic noise they locally produce via thermal populations of magnons. To this end, we perform nanoscale, all-optical relaxometry with a scanning quantum sensor based on a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect in diamond. Magnetic noise is detected through an increase of the spin relaxation rate of the NV defect, which results in an overall reduction of its photoluminescence signal under continuous laser illumination. As a proof-of-concept, the efficiency of the method is demonstrated by imaging various spin textures in synthetic antiferromagnets, including domain walls, spin spirals and antiferromagnetic skyrmions. This imaging procedure could be extended to a large class of intrinsic antiferromagnets and opens up new opportunities for studying the physics of localized spin wave modes for magnonics.

Ref HAL: tel-03193033_v1
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Les matériaux antiferromagnétiques (AF) suscitent actuellement un intérêt considérable pour la conception de futurs dispositifs spintroniques à faible coût énergétique et ultra-rapides. Cependant, l’exploration de ces matériaux novateurs se heurte à des défis d’imagerie magnétique : la plupart des techniques conventionnelles de microscopie magnétique en espace réel ne peuvent pas sonder l'ordre AF aux échelles nanométriques, en raison de la compensation des moments magnétiques donnant lieu à des signaux magnétiques extrêmement faibles. Il s'agit d'un obstacle majeur à la compréhension fondamentale de l'ordre AF à l'échelle nanométrique et de sa réponse à des stimuli externes, tels que des courants polarisés en spin ou des champs électriques. Afin d’exploiter le potentiel des matériaux AF dans une nouvelle génération de dispositifs spintroniques, les capacités de contrôle et d'imagerie à l'échelle nanométrique, qui sont désormais courantes pour l’étude des matériaux ferromagnétiques, doivent être étendues aux matériaux AF. Nous prouvons dans cette thèse que la magnétométrie à balayage basée sur un défaut azote-lacune (NV) dans le diamant, convient parfaitement à l'imagerie d'ordres AF complexes à l'échelle nanométrique, sous conditions ambiantes.Un matériau prometteur pour la spintronique AF est le BiFeO3 (BFO), un multiferroïque opérant à température ambiante dans lequel l'ordre AF est intimement lié à l'ordre ferroélectrique via le couplage magnétoélectrique. La magnétométrie NV démontre ici sa capacité à imager l'ordre AF cycloïdal dans BFO en cartographiant le champ magnétique de fuite qu'il produit. Il permet également de déduire des grandeurs caractéristiques telles que la valeur du moment magnétique non compensé, mais aussi de visualiser en espace réel le lien intime entre les ordres ferroélectrique et AF. Afin que le BFO trouve sa place dans la conception de dispositifs spintroniques, les couches minces doivent être employées. L'effet de la contrainte épitaxiale sur l'ordre AF dans des couches minces de BFO est ici étudié. Il est montré que la contrainte et le contrôle électrique peuvent stabiliser une grande variété de textures de spin AF complexes dans les couches minces de BFO.Au delà d’imager le champ de fuite statique, nous montrons une nouvelle approche pour l'imagerie des textures AF qui consiste à cartographier le bruit magnétique qu'elles produisent localement plutôt que leurs champs magnétiques statiques. Cette technique exploite la forte dépendance de la photoluminescence du défaut NV sur les fluctuations magnétiques à la fréquence de résonance de spin du centre NV. Comme preuve de principe de l'efficacité de cette technique, les propriétés ajustables des antiferromagnétiques synthétiques qui hébergent des ondes de spins sont exploitées, pour stabiliser différentes textures de spin. Ces textures AF telles que les parois de domaine, les spirales de spin et les skyrmions AF sont imagées par cette technique nouvelle de relaxométrie.

Ref HAL: hal-02909544_v1
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15501-8
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Antiferromagnetic thin films are currently generating considerable excitement for low dis-sipation magnonics and spintronics. However, while tuneable antiferromagnetic textures form the backbone of functional devices, they are virtually unknown at the submicron scale. Here we image a wide variety of antiferromagnetic spin textures in multiferroic BiFeO 3 thin films that can be tuned by strain and manipulated by electric fields through room-temperature magnetoelectric coupling. Using piezoresponse force microscopy and scanning NV magne-tometry in self-organized ferroelectric patterns of BiFeO 3 , we reveal how strain stabilizes different types of non-collinear antiferromagnetic states (bulk-like and exotic spin cycloids) as well as collinear antiferromagnetic textures. Beyond these local-scale observations, resonant elastic X-ray scattering confirms the existence of both types of spin cycloids. Finally, we show that electric-field control of the ferroelectric landscape induces transitions either between collinear and non-collinear states or between different cycloids, offering perspectives for the design of reconfigurable antiferromagnetic spin textures on demand.

Ref HAL: hal-02428517_v1
Ref Arxiv: 2001.00912
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.13.044079
WoS: 000529842800003
Ref. & Cit.: NASA ADS
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1 Citation
Résumé:

We demonstrate that magnetic skyrmions with diameters around 60 nm can be stabilized at room temperature and zero external magnetic field in an exchange-biased Pt/Co/NiFe/IrMn multilayer stack. This is achieved through an advanced optimization of the multilayer stack composition in order to balance the different magnetic energies controlling the skyrmion size. Magnetic imaging is performed both with magnetic force microscopy and scanning Nitrogen-Vacancy magnetometry, the latter providing unambiguous measurements at zero external magnetic field. In such samples, we show that exchange bias provides an immunity of the skyrmion spin texture to moderate external magnetic field, in the tens of mT range, which is an important feature for applications as memory devices. These results establish exchange-biased multilayer stacks as a promising platform towards the effective realization of memory and logic devices based on magnetic skyrmions.

Commentaires: 5 pages, 3 figures