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We have studied the changes in the magnetic behavior of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) samples subjected to medium-energy proton and helium irradiation. The variations of the ferromagneticlike magnetization curves with the irradiation dose have been studied for two configurations: magnetic fields parallel and perpendicular to graphitic planes. For high irradiation doses, the values of magnetization at saturation are close for both geometries. At low irradiation fluences an orientationally dependent magnetic response is obtained. Directional dependence of magnetization indicates that the magnetism in irradiated graphite is triggered by vertically aligned intrinsic carbon defects induced by irradiation. This physical picture has been verified by the observation of a local stray field near linear defects by means of magnetic force microscopy. Similar results obtained with hydrogen and helium ions confirm that the chemical nature of projectiles is not crucial for formation of ferromagnetic order in oriented graphite. The dependence of induced magnetic moment versus irradiation dose shows a maximum; the optimal dose is an order of magnitude less for helium ions than for protons, being in line with simulations showing that He+ generates 8 times more defects than H+. Raman studies indicate that the degradation of magnetic ordering at large irradiation doses occurs much earlier than graphite amorphization but coincides with the destruction of graphene sheet stacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study molecular beam epitaxy growth, morphology, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of Co nanoislands on CaF2/Si(111) surface. In order to have a full appreciation of complex growth kinetics at different stages, a comprehensive study of Co growth on CaF2 is carried out by atomic force, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopies in the direct space, as well as by x-ray and electron diffraction in the reciprocal space. These experimental data are complemented by theoretical modeling. Magnetic properties are characterized by magneto-optical Kerr effect and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometries. Key effects influencing the Co growth on fluorite are addressed, including the sticking probability, the preferential nucleation sites, the size and shape time evolution, the dependence of Co morphology on temperature and Co exposure, and the coalescence mechanism. The two-stage deposition technique is developed, whereby the low-temperature seeding stage is used to facilitate Co nucleation, and the follow-up high-temperature deposition yields Co particles with high crystalline quality. Our results enable precise control over the resulting morphology, spatial ordering, and crystal structure affecting the magnetic properties. In particular, it is demonstrated that the transformation from dense to isolated Co nanoparticles leads to the change of the in-plane and out-of- plane magnetic anisotropy and also the sign of polar and longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effects. We study molecular beam epitaxy growth, morphology, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of Co nanoislands on CaF2/Si(111) surface. In order to have a full appreciation of complex growth kinetics at different stages, a comprehensive study of Co growth on CaF2 is carried out by atomic force, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopies in the direct space, as well as by x-ray and electron diffraction in the reciprocal space. These experimental data are complemented by theoretical modeling. Magnetic properties are characterized by magneto-optical Kerr effect and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometries. Key effects influencing the Co growth on fluorite are addressed, including the sticking probability, the preferential nucleation sites, the size and shape time evolution, the dependence of Co morphology on temperature and Co exposure, and the coalescence mechanism. The two-stage deposition technique is developed, whereby the low-temperature seeding stage is used to facilitate Co nucleation, and the follow-up high-temperature deposition yields Co particles with high crystalline quality. Our results enable precise control over the resulting morphology, spatial ordering, and crystal structure affecting the magnetic properties. In particular, it is demonstrated that the transformation from dense to isolated Co nanoparticles leads to the change of the in-plane and out-of- plane magnetic anisotropy and also the sign of polar and longitudinal magneto-optical Kerr effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conducting state of a quasi-two-dimensional electron gas (q2DEG), formed at the heterointerface between the two wide-bandgap insulators LaAlO3 (LAO) and SrTiO3, can be made completely insulating by low-energy, 150-eV, Ar+ irradiation. The metallic behavior of the interface can be recovered by high-temperature oxygen annealing. The electrical transport properties of the recovered q2DEG are exactly the same as before the irradiation. Microstructural investigations confirm that the transition is not due to physical etching or crystal lattice distortion of the LAO film below its critical thickness. They also reveal a correlation between electrical state, LAO film surface amorphization, and argon ion implantation. The experimental results are in agreement with density functional theory calculations of Ar implantation and migration in the LAO film. This suggests that the metal-insulator transition may be caused by charge trapping in the defect amorphous layer created during the ion irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium-energy ion spectroscopy (MEIS) has been used to study the depth profile and deduce the distribution of possible cationic substitutions in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) heterointerfaces. Analysis of La and Sr peaks in aligned and random MEIS spectra indicates that the surface layers of LAO on an STO substrate are not homogeneous and stoichiometric if the film thickness is less than 4 unit cell layers. This is possibly caused by a redistribution of La and Sr at the interface. Kelvin probe force microscopy reveals an inhomogeneous distribution of the surface potential in a 4 unit cell LAO film, indicating micrometer-sized regions of different compositions. Our findings provide a novel view on the microstructural origin of the electrically conductive interfaces.