Jacob A. J. Burgess

Quantitative Magneto-Mechanical Detection and Control of the Barkhausen Effect

Controlling Magnetic Noise Ferromagnetic materials contain a number of magnetic domains, with individual domains switching stochastically as the field strength is increased. As magnetic memory elements shrink in size, it is important to understand, and ultimately control, this magnetic noise. Using a magnetic vortex core integrated with a nanomechanical torsion balance, Burgess et al. (p. 1051, published online 17 January) created a two-dimensional map of the magnetic potential within the sample with nanoscale resolution. Moreover, introducing geometric defects (dimples) in the sample allowed the magnetization to be stabilized. A magnetic vortex core is used to probe nanoscale changes in magnetization. Quantitative characterization of intrinsic and artificial defects in ferromagnetic structures is critical to future magnetic storage based on vortices or domain walls moving through nanostructured devices. Using torsional magnetometry, we observe finite size modifications to the Barkhausen effect in the limiting case of a single vortex core interacting with individual pointlike pinning sites in a magnetic thin film. The Barkhausen effect in this limit becomes a quantitative two-dimensional nanoscale probe of local energetics in the film. Tailoring the pinning potential using single-point focused ion beam implantation demonstrates control of the effect and points the way to integrated magneto-mechanical devices incorporating quantum pinning effects.

Nanotorsional resonator torque magnetometry

Magnetic torque is used to actuate nanotorsional resonators, which are fabricated by focused-ion-beam milling of permalloy coated silicon nitride membranes. Optical interferometry is used to measure the mechanical response of two torsion modes at resonance, which is proportional to the magnetization vector of the nanomagnetic volume. By varying the bias magnetic field, the magnetic behavior can be measured with excellent sensitivity (≈108μB) for single magnetic elements.

Control of quantum magnets by atomic exchange bias

Mixing of discretized states in quantum magnets has a radical impact on their properties. Managing this effect is key for spintronics in the quantum limit. Magnetic fields can modify state mixing and, for example, mitigate destabilizing effects in single-molecule magnets. The exchange bias field has been proposed as a mechanism for localized control of individual nanomagnets. Here, we demonstrate that exchange coupling with the magnetic tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope provides continuous tuning of spin state mixing in an individual nanomagnet. By directly measuring spin relaxation time with electronic pump-probe spectroscopy, we find that the exchange interaction acts analogously to a local magnetic field that can be applied to a specific atom. It can be tuned in strength by up to several tesla and cancel external magnetic fields, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of complete control over individual quantum magnets with atomically localized exchange coupling.

Magnetic fingerprint of individual Fe4 molecular magnets under compression by a scanning tunnelling microscope

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) present a promising avenue to develop spintronic technologies. Addressing individual molecules with electrical leads in SMM-based spintronic devices remains a ubiquitous challenge: interactions with metallic electrodes can drastically modify the SMMs properties by charge transfer or through changes in the molecular structure. Here, we probe electrical transport through individual Fe4 SMMs using a scanning tunnelling microscope at 0.5 K. Correlation of topographic and spectroscopic information permits identification of the spin excitation fingerprint of intact Fe4 molecules. Building from this, we find that the exchange coupling strength within the molecules magnetic core is significantly enhanced. First-principles calculations support the conclusion that this is the result of confinement of the molecule in the two-contact junction formed by the microscope tip and the sample surface.

Torque-mixing magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Mechanically detected spin resonances The interaction of spins in a sample with a magnetic field can generate forces that can be sensed with cantilever probes. Losby et al. measured the resonance signals at room temperature with a micromechanical torque magnetometer. The difference between two applied radio-frequency signals corresponded to the mechanical frequency of the resonator. This approach revealed the vortex core dynamics of the ferri-toferro–magnetic transition in a micrometer-sized yttrium-iron-garnet single-crystal disk. Science, this issue p. 798 Electronic spin resonances of a magnetic single crystal are measured with a mechanical torque sensor. A universal, torque-mixing method for magnetic resonance spectroscopy is presented. In analogy to resonance detection by magnetic induction, the transverse component of a precessing dipole moment can be measured in sensitive broadband spectroscopy, here using a resonant mechanical torque sensor. Unlike induction, the torque amplitude allows equilibrium magnetic properties to be monitored simultaneously with the spin dynamics. Comprehensive electron spin resonance spectra of a single-crystal, mesoscopic yttrium iron garnet disk at room temperature reveal assisted switching between magnetization states and mode-dependent spin resonance interactions with nanoscale surface imperfections. The rich detail allows analysis of even complex three-dimensional spin textures. The flexibility of microelectromechanical and optomechanical devices combined with broad generality and capabilities of torque-mixing magnetic resonance spectroscopy offers great opportunities for development of integrated devices.

Time-resolved single dopant charge dynamics in silicon

As the ultimate miniaturization of semiconductor devices approaches, it is imperative that the effects of single dopants be clarified. Beyond providing insight into functions and limitations of conventional devices, such information enables identification of new device concepts. Investigating single dopants requires sub-nanometre spatial resolution, making scanning tunnelling microscopy an ideal tool. However, dopant dynamics involve processes occurring at nanosecond timescales, posing a significant challenge to experiment. Here we use time-resolved scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy to probe and study transport through a dangling bond on silicon before the system relaxes or adjusts to accommodate an applied electric field. Atomically resolved, electronic pump-probe scanning tunnelling microscopy permits unprecedented, quantitative measurement of time-resolved single dopant ionization dynamics. Tunnelling through the surface dangling bond makes measurement of a signal that would otherwise be too weak to detect feasible. Distinct ionization and neutralization rates of a single dopant are measured and the physical process controlling those are identified.

Thermo-mechanical sensitivity calibration of nanotorsional magnetometers

We report on the fabrication of sensitive nanotorsional resonators, which can be utilized as magnetometers for investigating the magnetization dynamics in small magnetic elements. The thermo-mechanical noise is calibrated with the resonator displacement in order to determine the ultimate mechanical torque sensitivity of the magnetometer.

Nonlocally sensing the magnetic states of nanoscale antiferromagnets with an atomic spin sensor

A three-atom spin chain can sense the magnetic states of nano-antiferromagnets with micro–electron volt sensitivity. The ability to sense the magnetic state of individual magnetic nano-objects is a key capability for powerful applications ranging from readout of ultradense magnetic memory to the measurement of spins in complex structures with nanometer precision. Magnetic nano-objects require extremely sensitive sensors and detection methods. We create an atomic spin sensor consisting of three Fe atoms and show that it can detect nanoscale antiferromagnets through minute, surface-mediated magnetic interaction. Coupling, even to an object with no net spin and having vanishing dipolar stray field, modifies the transition matrix element between two spin states of the Fe atom–based spin sensor that changes the sensor’s spin relaxation time. The sensor can detect nanoscale antiferromagnets at up to a 3-nm distance and achieves an energy resolution of 10 μeV, surpassing the thermal limit of conventional scanning probe spectroscopy. This scheme permits simultaneous sensing of multiple antiferromagnets with a single-spin sensor integrated onto the surface.

Stiction-free fabrication of lithographic nanostructures on resist-supported nanomechanical resonators

The authors report a highly flexible process for nanostructure lithography to incorporate specific functions in micro- and nanomechanical devices. The unique step involves electron beam patterning on top of released, resist-supported, surface micromachined structures, hence avoiding hydrofluoric acid etching of sensitive materials during the device release. The authors demonstrate the process by creating large arrays of nanomechanical torque magnetometers on silicon-on-insulator substrates. The fabricated devices show a thermomechanical noise-limited magnetic moment sensitivity in the range of 5 × 106 μB at room temperature and can be utilized to study both magnetostatics and dynamics in nanomagnets across a wide temperature range. The fabrication process can be generalized for the deposition and patterning of a wide range of materials on micro-/nanomechanical resonators.

Three-Dimensional Mapping of Single-Atom Magnetic Anisotropy

Magnetic anisotropy plays a key role in the magnetic stability and spin-related quantum phenomena of surface adatoms. It manifests as angular variations of the atoms magnetic properties. We measure the spin excitations of individual Fe atoms on a copper nitride surface with inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy. Using a three-axis vector magnet we rotate the magnetic field and map out the resulting variations of the spin excitations. We quantitatively determine the three-dimensional distribution of the magnetic anisotropy of single Fe atoms by fitting the spin excitation spectra with a spin Hamiltonian. This experiment demonstrates the feasibility of fully mapping the vector magnetic properties of individual spins and characterizing complex three-dimensional magnetic systems.