Search for non-collinear spin structures in pure and rare earth doped ultra-thin ferrites

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Pawel Buczek; Dr. Katayoon Mohseni
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 463310690

The aim of this proposal is a specic design and fabrication of appropriate magnonics systems based on ferrite spinels and further investigation of their structural, electronic, and magnetic properties. Ferrite spinels are magnetic insulators with a high FM to PM transition temperature. We propose to introduce desired magnetic properties in these materials by specic doping with rare earth (RE) elements. Our research will be carried out by combining first-principles material design and experiments investigating atomic, electronic and magnetic properties of RE doped ultra-thin spinel in unprecedented accuracy. The precise and detailed analysis of the structure obtained with surface x-ray diffraction analysis will be used as input for first-principles calculations to model electronic and magnetic properties. On the experimental side, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, magneto-optic Kerr eect measurements, resonant soft x-ray magnetic scattering and nuclear resonant scattering will be carried out to provide an element specic and spatially resolved model of the spin structure. It is planned also to investigate the impact of alkali metal induced electron donation to strengthen the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida (RKKY) interaction, which would be the leading magnetic interaction in such RE doped thin lm spinels.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Co-Investigator: Privatdozent Dr. Holger L. Meyerheim