Nanometric modulations of the magnetic structure of the element Nd
The rare earth neodymium arguably exhibits the most complex magnetic ordering and series of magnetic phase transitions of the elements. Here we report the results of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field to study magnetic correlations on nanometer length scales in Nd. We support these results with additional neutron diffraction, thermodynamic and synchrotron x-ray measurements. The SANS measurements reveal the presence of modulation vectors characterizing the ordered spin configuration which exhibit changes in magnitude and direction that are phase dependent. Between 5.9 and 7.6 K an additional modulation vector is observed with magnitude Q = 0.12 Å<sup>-1</sup>. This scattering appears to originate from order of the Nd layers which contain a center of inversion. Tracking this modulation vector as a function of magnetic field indicates a phase boundary at ≈1 T. The modulation vectors observed in this study establish the presence of nanometer length scale spin textures which are likely stabilized by frustrated Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interactions.
Authors
- Markus Bleuel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3923-9505)
- Z. Islam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7495-9762)
- L. L. Kish
- Ganesh Pokharel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1383-3437)
- Matthias Frontzek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8704-8928)
- H. Miao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1078-5713)
- Lisa DeBeer‐Schmitt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9679-3444)
- A. D. Christianson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3369-5884)
- Hasitha Suriya Arachchige
- David Mandrus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3616-7104)
- Andrew F. May (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0777-8539)
- J. D. Thompson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8801-157X)
- G. Fabbris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8278-4985)
- David Parker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6101-1334)
- P. F. S. Rosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3437-548X)
- M. B. Stone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7884-9715)
- Binod K. Rai
- Shi-Zeng Lin
- Haoxiang Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-2598)
- S. M. Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0889-4435)
- Wei Tian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7735-3187)
- Shang Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7447-3140)
Institutions
- Argonne National Laboratory (US)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (US)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (US)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (US)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Savannah River National Laboratory (US)
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Materials Today Quantum
- Published
- 2024-09-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtquan.2024.100016
- Primary Topic
- Magnetic properties of thin films
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
- Battelle
- Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies
- UT-Battelle
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Office of Science
- National Nuclear Security Administration
- Basic Energy Sciences
- Laboratory Directed Research and Development
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Los Alamos National Laboratory