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Heavy rare-earth-based ternary intermetallic compounds with the formula RT2X2 have drawn great interest because of their multiple magnetic transitions and various magnetic structures. Here, anisotropic magnetic behaviors, magnetocaloric effects (MCEs), and magnetostriction effects in single-crystalline GdMn2Ge2 are studied in two different directions. Experiments show a magnetic transition characterized by a sudden decrease in magnetization for μ0H//a and a sharp increase for μ0H//c at Tt. The transition is driven by lower temperatures for μ0H//a, contrasting that for μ0H//c with an increase in the magnetic field. An inverse MCE is observed for μ0H//a with a maximum magnetic entropy change (− Δ S M max ) of −7.4 J kg−1 K−1 (μ0ΔH = 6 T), while a direct MCE is obtained for μ0H//c with an − Δ S M max of 8.0 J kg−1 K−1 under the same magnetic field change. Moreover, a remarkable field-induced metamagnetic transition and a magnetostriction effect are observed simultaneously at Tt, indicating strong magneto-lattice coupling. The T-μ0H phase diagrams are constructed based on the magnetic properties. The coexistence of direct and inverse MCEs is discussed and is due to the spin-flop of Mn and anisotropic magnetic properties under magnetic fields in different directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic skyrmion-based spin transfer nano-oscillators have been set as microwave signal emitters and gaining in popularity due to their performance and integrability in the existing CMOS process flow. In this work, we report our investigations on the strain-modulated magnetization precession in the breathing mode skyrmion-based spin transfer nano-oscillator, which strains from the juxtaposed piezoelectric materials. The strain-modulated skyrmion breathing frequency can be strongly controlled by biaxial-isotropy in-plane strain, in which the tunable range varies from 500 MHz to 7 GHz under the fixed current density − 4 × 10 12 A / m 2 and varying strain from − 2000 ppm to 4000 ppm. Such tunability is external magnetic free and even does not reduce the dynamic resistance variation. Through this method, a promising digital binary frequency shift-key and amplitude shift-key modulation technique are presented, in which the magnetization precession frequency and amplitude can be tuned with the co-action of current and strain pulses. These findings are providing an optional route to design future tunable spin transfer nano-oscillators based on skyrmion with better performance in the wireless communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiments indicate that the phenomena of inverse exchange bias and negative magnetization are observed simultaneously in Gd2Co0.5Mn1.5O6 below the ferrimagnetic compensation point Tcomp. The training effect confirms the intrinsic nature of the inverse exchange bias and reveals that the frozen spins relax more slowly than the rotatable spins according to the fitting of exchange bias field (HEB) vs cycle loops (n) curve. The amplitude of HEB varies inversely with the cooling field Hcool and the inverse exchange bias is found to remain up to 50 kOe. The observed exchange bias is argued to be due to the fact that the inverse ferromagnetic moments below Tcomp can be flipped by adjusting the amplitude or direction of the magnetic field during the M(H) hysteresis loop measurement. The manipulability of the negative magnetization state is demonstrated by the remanent magnetization and magnetic switching measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of chemical reactions during ion irradiation is a frontier for the study of the ion–material interaction. In order to probe the chemistry of ion produced nanoclusters, valence electron energy loss spectroscopy (VEELS) was exploited to investigate Ga+ ion damage in Al2O3, InP, and InGaAs, where each target material has been shown to react differently to the interaction between impinging ions, recoil atoms, and vacancies: metallic Ga, ternary InGaP clusters, and metallic In clusters are formed in Al2O3, InP, and InGaAs, respectively. Supporting simulations based on Monte Carlo and crystal orbital Hamiltonian calculations indicate that the chemical constitution of cascade induced nano-precipitates is a result of a competition between interstitial/vacancy consumption rates and preferential bond formation due to differing bond strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the effect of crystalline structures on the thermal stability and electrical properties of nickel monogermanide (NiGe)/Ge contacts. The crystalline structure of the NiGe layer was found to be a determining factor for the thermal stability. Compared with the polycrystalline NiGe layer, the epitaxial NiGe layer with the orientation NiGe(100) ǁ Ge(110) exhibited a promising thermal stability due to its uniform interface and small residual stress. We have also demonstrated the alleviation of Fermi level pinning (FLP) by controlling the crystalline structures of NiGe layers on Ge(110) substrates. These works give us a hint that controlling the crystalline structure of metal layers enables one to control the Schottky barrier height of metal/Ge contacts, and the origin of FLP is not due to the intrinsic factor, e.g., metal induced gap states, but due to the extrinsic factors such as strong anisotropy of the work function and disorders at the metal/Ge interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic skyrmions, as spintronic information carriers, are promising for next-generation spin logic and memory devices. For such skyrmion-based devices, effective control of skyrmion nucleation and controllable motion in the nanotrack are of great importance. The ion irradiation process can modify magnetic properties, such as perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), at the nanoscale, which can be used to reduce the design complexity of devices. In this study, a nanoregion without PMA in the nanotrack is adopted as a skyrmion nucleation seed and a current-driven highly efficient, in-line, and on-demand skyrmion nucleation schematic is presented. A key factor for realizing this concept is that the disappearance of PMA and the existence of DMI induce magnetization tilts and create a chiral perpendicular stripe domain within the nucleation region. This stripe domain allows the effective control of the spin transfer torque, and it is ejected from the PMA-modified region and propelled into the nanotrack, forming a stable skyrmion. Our proposed device allows the controlled nucleation and propagation of a series of skyrmions, which allows binary information to be written in a controlled manner, consequently, yielding simple devices with two terminals. This study provides an efficient route for designing tunable skyrmionics-mechanic memory devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage-induced strain is regarded as an energy-efficient choice of tuning spin-dynamics. However, studies on the strain-mediated switching of magnetization in a perpendicular-magnetic-anisotropy layer are few because of the uncertainties that arise from the magnetization oscillation at high strain. In this work, we demonstrate theoretically how to deterministically switch the perpendicular magnetization in an ultrathin magnetic nanodisk by combining biaxial in-plane strain with the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI). The magnetization-switching process is carefully investigated under different strains and DMI strengths. The underlying switching mechanism is attributed to the remnant magnetization component, which deviates away from the film plane during the strain-pulse-impulsion period and which is also highly dependent on the DMI. Based on simulation results, a theoretical route for obtaining deterministic switching regarding strain and DMI is established. In this route, the minimum duration of the strain pulse can be shortened to a critical time of 2.5 ns as the strain increases to 7000 ppm at a DMI value of 0.6 mJ/m2. Moreover, nonvolatile and reversible switching between the spin-up and spin-down states of perpendicular magnetization is realized using pulses of biaxial in-plane isotropic strain. This switching occurs via an intermediate skyrmion and shows potential in overcoming the edge-roughness-related pinning that occurs in spin–orbit-torque current-induced switching. This study provides a robust insight into strain-induced current-free magnetization switching, providing a guide for experimental research into the strain-mediated voltage control of memory applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic radial vortex is a nanoscale magnetization configuration that is typically stabilized by the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (i-DMI). The existing control methods for the radial vortex core polarity rely on the use of current flow or magnetic fields, which may cause long consumption times or limit device miniaturization. Here, we investigate a repeated reversal of a radial vortex that can be driven by strain from a piezoelectric substrate using micromagnetic simulations. A phase diagram for the representative regions against perpendicular anisotropy, i-DMI, and the applied strain was obtained. The derived phase diagram was used to associate the mechanism of the core reversal with edge magnetization rotation during core magnetization switching, which exhibits a relationship by transforming a quasi-Bloch wall into a Néel wall. The existence of the i-DMI effect causes the core polarity and radial chirality of the radial vortex to be reversed simultaneously without resulting in larger core movements. These results offer an alternative and efficient way to achieve core reversal, which is expected to stimulate the radial vortex application in magnetoresistive memory devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-low field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system was set up in an urban laboratory without magnetic shielding. The measured environmental gradient fields of 1 ∼ 5 μT/m caused image distortion. We designed a gradient detection and compensation system to effectively balance the gradient tensor components. The free induction decay signal duration of tap water was thus extended from 0.3 s to 2.5 s, providing the possibility for high-resolution imaging. Two-dimensional MRI images were then obtained at 130 μT with a helium-cooled second-order superconducting quantum interference device gradiometer. This result allows us to develop an inexpensive ULF MRI system for biological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]