Picosecond Dynamics of Magnetic Exchange Springs
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
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Organisations
Publications
Awana G
(2022)
Critical analysis of proximity-induced magnetism in MnTe / Bi 2 Te 3 heterostructures
in Physical Review Materials
Bowden G
(2019)
Expanding the Lorentz concept in magnetism
in New Journal of Physics
Burn DM
(2023)
Spin pumping through nanocrystalline topological insulators.
in Nanotechnology
Da Browski M
(2020)
Optically and Microwave-Induced Magnetization Precession in [Co/Pt]/NiFe Exchange Springs.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
Dabrowski M
(2021)
Canted standing spin-wave modes of permalloy thin films observed by ferromagnetic resonance
in New Journal of Physics
Dabrowski M
(2020)
Coherent Transfer of Spin Angular Momentum by Evanescent Spin Waves within Antiferromagnetic NiO
in Physical Review Letters
Da¸browski M
(2021)
Transition Metal Synthetic Ferrimagnets: Tunable Media for All-Optical Switching Driven by Nanoscale Spin Current
in Nano Letters
Duffy L
(2019)
Magnetic profile of proximity-coupled ( Dy , Bi ) 2 Te 3 / ( Cr , Sb ) 2 Te 3 topological insulator heterostructures
in Physical Review B
Duffy L
(2018)
Imposing long-range ferromagnetic order in rare-earth-doped magnetic topological-insulator heterostructures
in Physical Review Materials
| Description | By the end of the second reporting period (9 + 12 months), the following milestones were reached: - DyFe2/YFe2 SLs - DyFe2/YFe2 trilayers - Trilayers with ErF2 substitution The following milestones were reached by the end of the third reporting period: - FePt/NiFe/FePt trilayers - Mn spy layer study (inserted into NiFe springs) - CoPt/NiFe/CoPt trilayers By the end of the fourth reporting period, a steady (COVID permitting) supply of the following samples has been produced: - FePt/NiFe/FePt trilayers - CoPt/NiFe/CoPt trilayers Since the project had finished, samples relevant to the originally proposed work are still being produced, measured and analyzed. One publication on the GLAD deposition technique has been accepted in February 2022, and two more, one establishing so-called spy layers for the monitoring of magnetization dynamics as a function of depth, and one on the successful demonstration of an exchange spring at remanence in CoPt/NiFe/Co trilayers are being prepared for submission in the first quarter of 2023. |
| Exploitation Route | The thin film systems produced during the tenure of the grant are still used by the other members of the research team in Exeter and at the Diamond Light Source, who are part of the larger project cluster on exchange spring materials. Owing COVID (see separate comments), we have effectively lost 2 years, however, the foundation for the exploitation of the method has been laid and we are hopeful that our capabilities will seed new collaborations and projects in the near future. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics |
| Description | According to RCUK, economic and societal impact refers to the tangible contribution that outstanding research makes to society and the economy. Such impacts are diverse and can manifest in many ways, including improving the global economic performance of the United Kingdom, enhancing the effectiveness of public services and policy, and elevating the quality of life, health, and creativity. Through our "Picosecond Dynamics of Magnetic Exchange Springs" grant (Exeter-Diamond-Oxford), we have advanced academic research by deepening our understanding of the magnetic exchange interaction within nanostructured materials. This research has facilitated the development of innovative technologies that can solve societal problems. In 2020, we organized research and industrial conclaves (https://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/exspring/team/) that brought together industrialists and international academic leaders to deliberate on the scientific and technological opportunities presented by our research. This event, along with our participation in scientific and public engagement meetings, has raised awareness of exchange springs as a viable alternative to the over-reliance on Chinese permanent magnets for applications such as motors. Furthermore, our research has opened up new possibilities for low-energy data storage solutions that address energy and environmental challenges posed by data storage centers. These achievements were only possible due to the EPSRC funding. Up to 2023, in total 14 peer-reviewed scientific publications have resulted from this project (of them three we published in 2023, and one more under revision), demonstrating the academic impact of the developed methodology. The delay in publication activity is a longer-term effect of COVID-19, resulting from our difficulties in accessing characterization equipment at the time of sample fabrication. Our work published in Physical Review Applied in 2023 reports the demonstration of the key goal of the project: the engineering of magnetic exchange springs via glancing angle deposition. The consortium has successfully achieved impact beyond academia by engaging with various stakeholders, including industry and the public. One such engagement activity involved organizing a conclave in 2020, which brought together industrialists and international academic leaders to discuss the scientific and technological opportunities presented by their research. More information about this event can be found at https://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/exspring/team/. Furthermore, the consortium has participated in outreach events, such as the World of Music, Arts, and Dance Festival in 2019, to communicate their research to the general public. To make the science more accessible and engaging, the consortium developed bespoke models of the physical systems, which were demonstrated at events in Exeter, Oxford, and at Diamond. These models were also used for outreach events aimed at families and young children, including the respective Open Days, before the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Spin waves to the rescue: Development of a spintronic reservoir computing platform |
| Amount | £451,563 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/V028049/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Title | Design of advanced sputtering system |
| Description | Over the past 10 months, we designed, optimized and manufactured a novel sputter deposition cluster with advanced capabilities. This tool is now under construction and will be used for the research project. After it has been fully qualified and optimized, it will be a open for other research collaborations as well. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The magnetization dynamics of magnetic exchange spring (ES) structures present a great opportunity to investigate the local exchange interaction (EI) in artificially structured materials, and determine how the EI responds to optical excitation. An ES may also have bistable states that can be used to store information. The exchange energy stored within an ES can reduce or even remove the need for an applied magnetic field in heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) - a cutting-edge technology for further increasing the storage density of hard drives. The translation of our knowledge gained in this object to commercially feasible applications requires use of transition-metal-based materials prepared by sputtering. This UHV sputtering system will deposit textured structures with both in and out of plane anisotropy. |
| Title | Design of advanced sputtering system - assembly |
| Description | Over the past 12 months, we assembled a novel sputter deposition cluster with advanced capabilities. This tool is now finished and first samples have been delivered to the collaborators in the research project. The sputtered is now open for other research collaborations as well, and we have recently approached industry to develop joint projects. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The magnetization dynamics of magnetic exchange spring (ES) structures present a great opportunity to investigate the local exchange interaction (EI) in artificially structured materials, and determine how the EI responds to optical excitation. An ES may also have bistable states that can be used to store information. The exchange energy stored within an ES can reduce or even remove the need for an applied magnetic field in heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) - a cutting-edge technology for further increasing the storage density of hard drives. The translation of our knowledge gained in this object to commercially feasible applications requires use of transition-metal-based materials prepared by sputtering. This UHV sputtering system is now used to deposit textured structures with both in and out of plane anisotropy. |
| Title | GLAD sputter cluster |
| Description | Further improvements of the sputter cluster have been made over the past year, increasing the up-time and reliability. The tool is being used for the engineering of the magnetic anisotropy of thin films, and is unique in its capabilities in the UK. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The first peer-reviewed paper reporting on the specific deposition method and capabilities of the deposition system has been accepted in February 2022, and we hope that this will enable the establishment of new links with other research groups in need of engineering magnetic thin films. Two more publications are underway, reporting on the application of the deposition method (and the deposition tool) for specific magnetic applications. |
| Title | Optimization of an advanced sputtering system |
| Description | Over the past 12 months, we have used the novel sputter deposition cluster to produce samples that have been successfully used in 3 beamtimes so far. We are in the process to further expand its capabilities by adding an electron diffraction system to the main chamber. This is a challenging task due to the unpredictably varying magnetic stray field produced by the deposition sources. The sputterer is now open for other research collaborations. We are still in the process of starting joints projects with industry. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The magnetization dynamics of magnetic exchange spring (ES) structures present a great opportunity to investigate the local exchange interaction (EI) in artificially structured materials, and determine how the EI responds to optical excitation. An ES may also have bistable states that can be used to store information. The exchange energy stored within an ES can reduce or even remove the need for an applied magnetic field in heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) - a cutting-edge technology for further increasing the storage density of hard drives. The translation of our knowledge gained in this object to commercially feasible applications requires use of transition-metal-based materials prepared by sputtering. This UHV sputtering system is now used to deposit textured structures with both in and out of plane anisotropy. |
| Title | Electronic structure and enhanced charge-density wave order of monolayer VSe2 (dataset) |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/datasets/electronic-structure-and-enhanced-charge-densit... |
| Description | WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | My contribution to the activity was the building of 3D models illustrating magnetic exchange springs to make them a tangible experience for the visitors of the booth. The presentations were given by Dr Andreas Frisk (part of the exchange spring project and based at Diamond). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |