Search for content and authors
 

Magnetic frustration in “Spin-Ice” nanostructures networks.

Souliman El Moussaoui 1,2Rachid Belkhou 1Nicolas Rougemaille 3Francois Montaigne 4Daniel Lacour 4Joel Briones 4Michel Hehn 4

1. SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin 91192, France
2. Sincrotrone Trieste (ELETTRA), Basovizza (Trieste) 34012, Italy
3. CNRS, Institut Néel (NEEL), 25 rue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38042, France
4. Université Henri Poincaré Nancy, Boulevard des Aiguillettes, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy 54506, France

Abstract

The recent progress made in lithography technologies allows the elaboration of well-controlled artificial structures exhibiting exciting behaviors such as quantum magnetism, order - disorder statistics... This is also the case for magnetic nanostructures for which the elaboration artificial networks of ferromagnetic single-domain structures allows to explore local magnetism, and in particular magnetic interactions between artificial nanostructures.

In a geometrically ordered network[1], these interactions generate magnetic frustrations similar to those observed in Spin-Ice systems[2]. The size and shape of the nanostructures are chosen so that only the single-domain configuration is stable (a few tens of nanometers and strong shape anisotropy) in order to avoid any influence of micromagnetism. The system can then be modeled by a network of spins (magnetic single-domain) arranged in the form of networks treated within the Ising model approximation[3]. Using lithography techniques, we can then create but also control the problem of magnetic frustration.

We present the results of a first study of frustrated magnetic systems composed of hexagonal (Kagomé) and square ordered networks using the combination of high-resolution X-PEEM microscopy and Magnetic Force microscopy. The goal of this work is to highlight the importance and the influence of short-range interactions and of the geometry on the magnetic frustration phenomena and relaxation.

Figure : ‘Spin-Ice’ Kagomé Network : periode 700nm. Nanostructure individual size : 100x400nm. a) LEEM microscopy image b) Magnetic domains images obtained using X-PEEM microscopy highlighting the magnetic frustration.

[1] Moessner, R. Can. J. Phys. 79, 1283-1294 (2001).

[2] R. F. Wang, C. Nisoli, R. S. Freitas, J. Li, W. McConville, B. J. Cooley, M. S. Lund, N. Samarth, C. Leighton,V. H. Crespi et P. Schiffer Nature 439, 303 (2006)

[3] M. Tanaka, E. Saitoh, H. Miyajima, T. Yamaoka et Y. Iye. Phys Rev B 73, 052411 (2006).

 

Legal notice
  • Legal notice:
 

Related papers

Presentation: Poster at E-MRS Fall Meeting 2007, Symposium I, by Souliman El Moussaoui
See On-line Journal of E-MRS Fall Meeting 2007

Submitted: 2007-05-19 13:40
Revised:   2009-06-07 00:44