Magnetic frustration, phase competition, and the magnetoelectric effect in NdFe3(BO3)4.

We present an element selective resonant magnetic x-ray scattering study of NdFe3(BO3)4 as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field. Our measurements show that the magnetic order of the Nd sublattice is induced by the Fe spin order. When a magnetic field is applied parallel to the hexagonal basal plane, the helicoidal spin order is suppressed and a collinear ordering, where the moments are forced to align in a direction perpendicular to the applied magnetic field, is stabilized. This result excludes a noncollinear spin order as the origin of the magnetically induced electric polarization in this compound. Instead our data imply that magnetic frustration results in a phase competition, which is the origin of the magnetoelectric response.

Transverse magnetism in uniaxial antiferromagnet UNiGa.

UNiGa crystallizes in the hexagonal ZrNiAl structure and orders antiferromagnetically below T(N)=39.3 K with the U moments oriented along the c-axis (easy magnetization axis). There are four different antiferromagnetic phases in zero magnetic field and two field induced magnetic phases in UNiGa. For all of them, a strong uniaxial anisotropy is encountered. All the magnetic phases are described by propagation vectors of (0 0 q(i))-type, where q(i) describes the stacking of the ferromagnetic basal planes along the hexagonal c-axis. However, recently (0 0 L)-type Bragg reflections associated with the magnetic ordering have been observed by neutron diffraction. Based on unpolarized and polarized neutron diffraction and non-resonant and resonant synchrotron x-ray scattering experiments combined with polarization analysis we conclude that small amounts of magnetic moments oriented perpendicular to the c-axis exist in UNiGa. Whether these moments reside on Ni atoms outside the U-Ni planes or at interstitial regions could not be determined.

The magnetic order of GdMn2Ge2 studied by neutron diffraction and x-ray resonant magnetic scattering.

The magnetic structure of GdMn2Ge2 (tetragonal I4/mmm) has been studied by hot neutron powder diffraction and x-ray resonant magnetic scattering techniques. These measurements, along with the results of bulk experiments, confirm the collinear ferrimagnetic structure with moment direction parallel to the c-axis below T(C) = 96 K and the collinear antiferromagnetic phase in the temperature region T(C) < T < T(N) = 365 K. In the antiferromagnetic phase, x-ray resonant magnetic scattering has been detected at Mn K and Gd L2 absorption edges. The Gd contribution is a result of an induced Gd 5d electron polarization caused by the antiferromagnetic order of Mn-moments.

Coupling of frustrated ising spins to the magnetic cycloid in multiferroic TbMnO(3).

We report on diffraction measurements on multiferroic TbMnO(3) which demonstrate that the Tb- and Mn-magnetic orders are coupled below the ferroelectric transition T(FE) = 28 K. For T

Enhanced ferroelectric polarization by induced Dy spin order in multiferroic DyMnO3.

Neutron powder diffraction and single crystal x-ray resonant magnetic scattering measurements suggest that Dy plays an active role in enhancing the ferroelectric polarization in multiferroic DyMnO3 above T(Dy)(N)=6.5 K. We observe the evolution of an incommensurate ordering of Dy moments with the same periodicity as the Mn spiral ordering. It closely tracks the evolution of the ferroelectric polarization. Below T(Dy)(N), where Dy spins order commensurately, the polarization decreases to values similar for those of TbMnO3. The higher P(s) found just above T(Dy)(N) arises from the contribution of Dy spins so as to effectively increase the amplitude of the Mn spin spiral.

Patterning of sodium ions and the control of electrons in sodium cobaltate.

Sodium cobaltate (Na(x)CoO2) has emerged as a material of exceptional scientific interest due to the potential for thermoelectric applications, and because the strong interplay between the magnetic and superconducting properties has led to close comparisons with the physics of the superconducting copper oxides. The density x of the sodium in the intercalation layers can be altered electrochemically, directly changing the number of conduction electrons on the triangular Co layers. Recent electron diffraction measurements reveal a kaleidoscope of Na+ ion patterns as a function of concentration. Here we use single-crystal neutron diffraction supported by numerical simulations to determine the long-range three-dimensional superstructures of these ions. We show that the sodium ordering and its associated distortion field are governed by pure electrostatics, and that the organizational principle is the stabilization of charge droplets that order long range at some simple fractional fillings. Our results provide a good starting point to understand the electronic properties in terms of a Hubbard hamiltonian that takes into account the electrostatic potential from the Na superstructures. The resulting depth of potential wells in the Co layer is greater than the single-particle hopping kinetic energy and as a consequence, holes preferentially occupy the lowest potential regions. Thus we conclude that the Na+ ion patterning has a decisive role in the transport and magnetic properties.

Anisotropic spin-orbit coupling and magnetocrystalline anisotropy in vicinal co films.

The anisotropy of the spin-orbit interaction, , in vicinal Co films has been measured using x-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD). A linear increase in with Co step density is found using a new sum rule and represents the first experimental confirmation that XMLD probes the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy (MAE). X-ray magnetic circular dichroism is used to confirm that the XMLD arises from changes in the local step-edge electronic structure. The XMLD sum rule gives a larger MAE compared to macroscopic values and is discussed with respect to other local probes of the MAE.

Magnetization profile of ultrathin FePd films.

The method of circular dichroism in X-ray resonant magnetic scattering is presented which allows a straightforward determination of the magnetization profile of magnetic patterns in ultrathin films. Application to single crystalline FePd layers shows unambiguously the presence of magnetic flux closure domains whose thickness can constitute a significant fraction ( approximately 25%) of the total film.

Chiral magnetic domain structures in ultrathin FePd films

The magnetization profile of magnetically ordered patterns in ultrathin films was determined by circular dichroism in x-ray resonant magnetic scattering (CDXRMS). When this technique was applied to single crystalline iron palladium alloy layers, magnetic flux closure domains were found whose thickness can constitute a large fraction ( approximately 25 percent) of the total film.

Electronic Band Structure of Monolayer Bi on GaP(110).

The two-dimensional electronic band structure of monolayer Bi on GaP(110) has been mapped using angle-resolved UV photoelectron spectroscopy (ARUPS) with synchrotron radiation. Surface photovoltage effects are corrected for by simultaneous second-order core spectroscopy. From valence-band spectra along the four symmetry directions of the surface Brillouin zone at three photon energies it is possible to distinguish three states as surface related. The topmost band is found to be inside the fundamental band gap, at ca 0.75 eV above the bulk valence-band maximum. Comparison with other V/III-V(110) systems shows that this system is not significantly different, despite the relatively large size of the Bi atoms with respect to the GaP lattice; in a selective comparison with InP and GaAs it would appear that Bi-substrate anion bonding is a more important factor than strain.