Hysteretic spin-density-wave ordering in confined geometrics.

Journal Article · Fri Dec 05 04:00:00 EST 2003 · Phys. Rev. Lett.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.237201· OSTI ID:961485

Fullerton, E E; Robertson, J L; Prinsloo, A E. R.; Alberts, H L; Bader, S D; Storage Tech, Hitachi Global; ORNL,

We have measured the antiferromagnetic spin-density-wave (SDW) order in Cr/Cr{sub 97.5}Mn{sub 2.5}(001) superlattices. The Mn doping creates a high Neel temperature layer that confines the incommensurate SDW order within the Cr layers. With temperature cycling we observe a transition from commensurate to incommensurate SDW order and discrete changes in the SDW period. We find that these transitions show significant hysteresis (up to 75 K) when the number of SDW nodes within the Cr layer changes by an odd number, while there is no hysteresis for changes of an even number of nodes. This results from the competition between maintaining the spin structure at the interfaces and introducing a spin slip at the nodes of the Cr SDW.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC; OUS
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 961485
• Report Number(s): ANL/MSD/JA-48296
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. Lett., Journal Name: Phys. Rev. Lett. Journal Issue: 23 ; Dec. 5, 2003 Vol. 91; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
DOPED MATERIALS
HYSTERESIS
INTERFACES
LAYERS
MANGANESE
NEEL TEMPERATURE
SLIP
SPIN
SUPERLATTICES