Daisuke Shindo

Low temperature crystal structure of Ni–Mn–Ga alloys

Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation at room temperature of the low temperature phase of Ni2.14Mn0.86Ga shows stress-induced 5 periodicity modulation along a pseudo-[111] cubic zone axis. On cooling to 173 K, the periodicity changes to 7. In stress-free areas, a [001] zone axis with new lattice parameters for the tetragonal phase was observed. The new lattice parameters are smaller by a factor of √2 than the expected lattice parameters. A new model for the tetragonal compound Ni2MnGa and the non-stoichiometric phases was developed with the help of TEM data, X-ray powder diffraction measurements, and a computational simulation based on the X-ray powder diffraction patterns.

Synthesis of bulk high Tc superconductors of TlBa2Can −1CunO2n + 3 (n = 2 − 5)

Abstract Bulk specimens of high Tc superconductors of TlBa2Can − 1CunO2n + 3 (n = 2 − 5) have been synthesized by heat treatment up to 10 hours. Crystal structures were analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy, and superconducting properties were determined by resistivity and DC susceptibility measurements. Tc increases with increasing number of Cu layers up to n = 4, where it turns down.

Local structure of amorphous Zr70Pd30 alloy studied by electron diffraction

The structures of melt-spun, and subsequently annealed, Zr70Pd30 alloys, which form a nanosized icosahedral quasicrystalline phase during the primary crystallization of the amorphous phase, have been investigated by means of electron-diffraction pair-distribution-function (PDF) analysis. The PDF analysis for this alloy was performed by precise measurements of elastic halo-electron-diffraction intensities. Possible structure models for as-quenched and annealed amorphous structures were constructed with the help of reverse Monte Carlo simulations. In order to obtain the local atomic structures, the Voronoi-polyhedra analysis was performed. A considerable number of icosahedral clusters with Zr atoms in the center are present in the simulated structure of the as-quenched state, and the number of the clusters increases by annealing.

Magnetic domain structures in Co–Ni–Al shape memory alloys studied by Lorentz microscopy and electron holography

Abstract Magnetic domain structures in recently developed Co–Ni–Al ferromagnetic shape memory alloys were examined by Lorentz microscopy and electron holography, and relations of the martensite variants (crystallographic domains) and the magnetic domains were discussed. Direct observations of the magnetic domain walls by Lorentz microscopy and the magnetic lines of force by electron holography revealed that each martensite variant was divided into fine magnetic domains under a low magnetic field, e.g. about 0.2 mT. Although an applied magnetic field of about 0.4 T made each variant a large single magnetic domain, a similar configuration of multiple magnetic domains to the previous one appeared when the applied field was removed. In situ Lorentz microscopy studies have demonstrated that magnetic domain structures are sensitive to the crystal structure and/or microstructure in Co–Ni–Al alloys, i.e. a magnetic domain structure favorable to the parent phase is not inherited to the parent phase, but a distinct domain structure is observed in the martensitic phase.

Ferromagnetic domain nucleation and growth in colossal magnetoresistive manganite

Colossal magnetoresistance is a dramatic decrease in resistivity caused by applied magnetic fields, and has been the focus of much research because of its potential for magnetic data storage using materials such as manganites. Although extensive microscopy and theoretical studies have shown that colossal magnetoresistance involves competing insulating and ferromagnetic conductive phases, the mechanism underlying the effect remains unclear. Here, by directly observing magnetic domain walls and flux distributions using cryogenic Lorentz microscopy and electron holography, we demonstrate that an applied magnetic field assists nucleation and growth of an ordered ferromagnetic phase. These results provide new insights into the evolution dynamics of complex domain structures at the nanoscale, and help to explain anomalous phase separation phenomena that are relevant for applications. Our approach can also be used to determine magnetic parameters of nanoscale regions, such as magnetocrystalline anisotropy and exchange stiffness, without bulk magnetization results or neutron scattering data.

Magnetization distribution in the mixed-phase state of hole-doped manganites.

The effect of ‘colossal magnetoresistance’ (CMR) in hole-doped manganites—an abnormal decrease of resistivity when a magnetic field is applied—has attracted significant interest from researchers in the past decade. But the underlying mechanism for the CMR phenomenon is not yet fully understood. It has become clear that a phase-separated state, where magnetic and non-magnetic phases coexist, is important, but the detailed magnetic microstructure of this mixed-phase state is so far unclear. Here we use electron microscopy to study the magnetic microstructure and development of ferromagnetic domains in the mixed-phase state of La1-xSrxMnO3 (x = 0.54, 0.56). Our measurements show that, in the absence of a magnetic field, the magnetic flux is closed within ferromagnetic regions, indicating a negligible magnetic interaction between separated ferromagnetic domains. However, we also find that the domains start to combine with only very small changes in temperature. We propose that the delicate nature of the magnetic microstructure in the mixed-phase state of hole-doped manganites is responsible for the CMR effect, in which significant conduction paths form between the ferromagnetic domains upon application of a magnetic field.

Electron holography of Nd-Fe-B nanocomposite magnets

Abstract Magnetization distribution in Nd–Fe–B nanocomposite magnets was investigated by electron holography, using a new pole piece apparatus dedicated to observations of nanocrystalline ferromagnetic materials. The exchange coupling between the magnetically soft and hard grains of 20–30 nm was experimentally verified by this microscopic study with improved resolution.

Metallographic and structural observations in the pseudo-binary section Ni3Si-Ni3Ti of the Ni-Si-Ti system

Abstract The metallographic and structural features of the alloys in the pseudo-binary section between Ni 3 Si (L1 2 ) and Ni 3 Ti (D0 24 ) were investigated. The L1 2 phase (γ′) extended along a pseudo-binary line between the two phases with Ti solubility of about 11 at.%. Also, the L1 2 phase expanded up to about 80 at.% Ni at high Ti concentration. Consistent with previous observations, the addition of the Ti elements into the Ni 3 Si alloy led to congruent melting of L1 2 phase. Based on the observations of X-ray diffraction and an electron channeling technique aided with EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer), it was shown that the alloying element, Ti, substituted for the component element of Si the ternary alloy Ni 3 (Si, Ti) was highly ordered. The solubility limit of boron in Ni 3 (Si, Ti) was shown to be very low, i.e. less than 50 ppm.

Observation of the magnetic flux and three-dimensional structure of skyrmion lattices by electron holography

Skyrmions are nanoscale spin textures that are viewed as promising candidates as information carriers in future spintronic devices. Skyrmions have been observed using neutron scattering and microscopy techniques. Real-space imaging using electrons is a straightforward way to interpret spin configurations by detecting the phase shifts due to electromagnetic fields. Here, we report the first observation by electron holography of the magnetic flux and the three-dimensional spin configuration of a skyrmion lattice in Fe(0.5)Co(0.5)Si thin samples. The magnetic flux inside and outside a skyrmion was directly visualized and the handedness of the magnetic flux flow was found to be dependent on the direction of the applied magnetic field. The electron phase shifts φ in the helical and skyrmion phases were determined using samples with a stepped thickness t (from 55 nm to 510 nm), revealing a linear relationship (φ = 0.00173 t). The phase measurements were used to estimate the three-dimensional structures of both the helical and skyrmion phases, demonstrating that electron holography is a useful tool for studying complex magnetic structures and for three-dimensional, real-space mapping of magnetic fields.

Superstructures of self-assembled cobalt nanocrystals

Uniform three-dimensional superstructures of spherical cobalt nanocrystals are produced by the interplay between dipolar interaction and applied magnetic field. An anomalous low-temperature magnetic behavior is observed, indicating that uncompensated surface spins become ordered below 10 K, as evidenced by the presence of two magnetic phases that superimpose in hysteresis loops as compared to measurements at 20 K. The approach discussed here provides a framework for applications such as high-performance mesomagnets, microelectronic and magnetic devices fabrication, and can be extended to other nanocomposite materials fabrication if cobalt particles can act as carriers for other nanoparticles.