Magnetic order and energy-scale hierarchy in articial spin ice structures

• In order to explain and predict the properties of many physical systems, it is essential to understand the interplay of different energy scales. Here we present investigations of the magnetic order in thermalized artificial spin-ice structures, with different activation energies of the interacting Ising-like elements. We image the thermally equilibrated magnetic states of the nanostructures using synchrotron-based magnetic microscopy. By comparing results obtained from structures with one or two different activation energies, we demonstrate a clear impact on the resulting magnetic order. The differences are obtained by the analysis of the magnetic spin structure factors, in which the role of the activation energies is manifested by distinct short-range order. These results highlight the potential of artificial spin-ice structures to serve as model systems for designing various energy-scale hierarchies and investigating their impact on the collective dynamics and magnetic order.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Den kondenserade materiens fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Condensed Matter Physics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Nanoteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Nano-technology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

artificial spin ice

magnetic nano-structures

mesoscopic spin systems

mesospins

model systems

Shakti

engineering of energy-landscape

multiple energy-scales

Fysik

Physics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)