RESUMO
Altermagnets are an emerging elementary class of collinear magnets. Unlike ferromagnets, their distinct crystal symmetries inhibit magnetization while, unlike antiferromagnets, they promote strong spin polarization in the band structure. The corresponding unconventional mechanism of time-reversal symmetry breaking without magnetization in the electronic spectra has been regarded as a primary signature of altermagnetism but has not been experimentally visualized to date. We directly observe strong time-reversal symmetry breaking in the band structure of altermagnetic RuO2 by detecting magnetic circular dichroism in angle-resolved photoemission spectra. Our experimental results, supported by ab initio calculations, establish the microscopic electronic structure basis for a family of interesting phenomena and functionalities in fields ranging from topological matter to spintronics, which are based on the unconventional time-reversal symmetry breaking in altermagnets.
RESUMO
The interplay between spin-orbit interaction and magnetic order is one of the most active research fields in condensed matter physics and drives the search for materials with novel, and tunable, magnetic and spin properties. Here we report on a variety of unique and unexpected observations in thin multiferroic Ge1-xMnxTe films. The ferrimagnetic order parameter in this ferroelectric semiconductor is found to switch direction under magnetostochastic resonance with current pulses many orders of magnitude lower as for typical spin-orbit torque systems. Upon a switching event, the magnetic order spreads coherently and collectively over macroscopic distances through a correlated spin-glass state. Utilizing these observations, we apply a novel methodology to controllably harness this stochastic magnetization dynamics.
RESUMO
In contrast to rare-earth-based materials, cheaper and more environmentally friendly candidates for cooling applications are found within the family of Ni-Mn Heusler alloys. Initial interest in these materials is focused on the first-order magnetostructural transitions. However, large hysteresis makes a magnetocaloric cycle irreversible. Alternatively, here it is shown how the Heusler family can be used to optimize reversible second-order magnetic phase transitions for magnetocaloric applications.
RESUMO
Influence of disorder, antisite defects, martensite transition and compositional variation on the magnetic properties and electronic structure of Mn(2)NiGa and Mn(1+x)Ni(2-x)Ga magnetic shape memory alloys have been studied by using full potential spin-polarized scalar relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostocker (FP-SPRKKR) method. Mn(2)NiGa is ferrimagnetic and its total spin moment increases when disorder in the occupancy of MnNi (Mn atom in Ni position) is considered. The moment further increases when Mn-Ga antisite defect [1] is included in the calculation. A reasonable estimate of TC for Mn(2)NiGa is obtained from the exchange parameters for the disordered structure. Disorder influences the electronic structure of Mn(2)NiGa through overall broadening of the density of states and a decrease in the exchange splitting. Inclusion of antisite defects marginally broaden the minority spin partial DOS (PDOS), while the majority spin PDOS is hardly affected. For Mn(1+x)Ni(2-x)Ga where 1 ⩾ x ⩾ 0, as x decreases, Mn(Mn) moment increases while Mn(Ni) moment decreases in both austenite and martensite phases. For x ⩾ 0.25, the total moment of the martensite phase is smaller compared to the austenite phase, which indicates possible occurrence of inverse magnetocaloric effect. We find that the redistribution of Ni 3d- Mn(Ni) 3d minority spin electron states close to the Fermi level is primarily responsible for the stability of the martensite phase in Mn-Ni-Ga.