Controllable dynamic magnetism in reconfigurable ferroelastic domain-wall networks engineered via nanocavities

Ferroelastic domain walls (DWs) offer a unique platform for engineering dynamic magnetism through controlled symmetry breaking. Here, we demonstrate deterministic magnetic field generation in reconfigurable DW networks using nanocavity-patterned ferroelastic matrices. Atomistic simulations reveal that propagating kinks along polar twin walls induce strain-gradient polarization and displacement current vortices, producing localized magnetic fields $(\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}\text{--}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6} \mathrm{T})$ via flexoelectric coupling. These fields exhibit scale-free avalanche dynamics with universal power-law exponents, mirroring mechanical energy release events during kink nucleation and depinning transitions. To overcome intrinsic disorder limitations, we mimic lithographically defined nanocavities that guide orthogonal DW propagation with cycle-to-cycle reproducibility, achieving local field enhancement compared to stochastic networks. Scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy on ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ detects out-of-plane magnetic signatures $(\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7} \mathrm{T})$ persisting for milliseconds, quantitatively matching simulations and indicating extended lifetimes. Crucially, kink velocity-dependent dynamic magnetism is established through synchronized magnetic and energy jerk profiles, resolving the atomic-scale mechanism linking DW motion to emergent magnetism. This work establishes a multiscale framework for defect-engineered ferroelastic materials, bridging atomic-scale polarization dynamics, mesoscale DW circuit design, and macroscale nonvolatile memory functionality. By decoupling magnetic responses from intrinsic disorder, our approach advances ferroelastic DW networks toward practical applications in strain-programmable spintronics and ultrahigh-density racetrack memories.

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Journal
Physical review. B./Physical review. B
Published
2025-11-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/9qkp-g4k6
Primary Topic
Multiferroics and related materials
Type
article
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article

Controllable dynamic magnetism in reconfigurable ferroelastic domain-wall networks engineered via nanocavities

Ekhard K. H. Salje, Suzhi Li, Harold Y. Hwang, Beena Kalisky et al.
Physical review. B./Physical review. B
Multiferroics and related materials
article

Controllable dynamic magnetism in reconfigurable ferroelastic domain-wall networks engineered via nanocavities

Ekhard K. H. Salje, Suzhi Li, Harold Y. Hwang, Beena Kalisky, Guangming Lu, Hyeok Yoon, Guohua Dong, Wei Liu, Shai Rabkin
article en

Abstract

Ferroelastic domain walls (DWs) offer a unique platform for engineering dynamic magnetism through controlled symmetry breaking. Here, we demonstrate deterministic magnetic field generation in reconfigurable DW networks using nanocavity-patterned ferroelastic matrices. Atomistic simulations reveal that propagating kinks along polar twin walls induce strain-gradient polarization and displacement current vortices, producing localized magnetic fields $(\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}\text{--}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6} \mathrm{T})$ via flexoelectric coupling. These fields exhibit scale-free avalanche dynamics with universal power-law exponents, mirroring mechanical energy release events during kink nucleation and depinning transitions. To overcome intrinsic disorder limitations, we mimic lithographically defined nanocavities that guide orthogonal DW propagation with cycle-to-cycle reproducibility, achieving local field enhancement compared to stochastic networks. Scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy on ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ detects out-of-plane magnetic signatures $(\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7} \mathrm{T})$ persisting for milliseconds, quantitatively matching simulations and indicating extended lifetimes. Crucially, kink velocity-dependent dynamic magnetism is established through synchronized magnetic and energy jerk profiles, resolving the atomic-scale mechanism linking DW motion to emergent magnetism. This work establishes a multiscale framework for defect-engineered ferroelastic materials, bridging atomic-scale polarization dynamics, mesoscale DW circuit design, and macroscale nonvolatile memory functionality. By decoupling magnetic responses from intrinsic disorder, our approach advances ferroelastic DW networks toward practical applications in strain-programmable spintronics and ultrahigh-density racetrack memories.

Physical review. B./Physical review. BVol. 112(24)
Bar-Ilan University (IL), Yantai University (CN), University of Cambridge (GB), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (US), Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN), Stanford University (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 73%
Multiferroics and related materials
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