Observation of a temperature dependent asymmetry in the domain structure of a Pd-doped FeRh epilayer

DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/16/11/113073

Authors: C. Kinane (ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source) , M. Loving (Northeastern University) , M. A. De Vries (University of Leeds) , R. Fan (ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) , T. Charlton (ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source) , J. S. Claydon (University of Leeds) , D. Arena (Brookhaven National Laboratory) , F. Maccherozzi (Diamond Light Source) , S. Dhesi (Diamond Light Source) , D. Heiman (Northeastern University) , C. Marrows (University of Leeds) , L. Lewis (Northeastern University) , S. Langridge (ISIS, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: New Journal Of Physics , VOL 16

State: Published (Approved)
Published: November 2014

Abstract: Using x-ray photoelectron emission microscopy we have observed the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases in a (3 at%)Pd-doped FeRh epilayer. By quantitatively analyzing the resultant images we observe that as the epilayer transforms there is a change in magnetic domain symmetry from predominantly twofold at lower temperatures through to an equally weighted combination of both four and twofold symmetries at higher temperature. It is postulated that the lowered symmetry Ising-like nematic phase resides at the near-surface of the epilayer. This behavior is different to that of undoped FeRh suggesting that the variation in symmetry is driven by the competing structural and electronic interactions in the nanoscale FeRh film coupled with the effect of the chemical doping disorder.

Journal Keywords: Antiferromagnetism; Asymmetry; Domain Structure; Doped Materials; Films; Iron Compounds; Nanostructures; Palladium; Rhodium Compounds; Surfaces; Symmetry; Temperature Dependence; X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Subject Areas: Chemistry


Instruments: I06-Nanoscience