Showing 1–8 of 8 results for author: Raftrey, D

Curvilinear magnonic crystal based on 3D hierarchical nanotemplates

Authors: Gianluca Gubbiotti, Olha Bezsmertna, Oleksandr V. Pylypovskyi, Rui Xu, Stephane Chiroli, Fatih Zighem, Claudia Fernandez Gonzalez, Andrea Sorrentino, David Raftrey, Daniel Wolf, Axel Lubk, Peter Fischer, Damien Faurie, Denys Makarov

Abstract: Curvilinear magnetic nanostructures enable control of magnetization dynamics through geometry-induced anisotropy and chiral interactions as well as magnetic field modulation. In this work, we report a curvilinear magnonic crystal based on large-area square arrays of truncated nanospikes fabricated by conformal coating of 3D hierarchical templates with permalloy thin films. Brillouin light scatteri… ▽ More Curvilinear magnetic nanostructures enable control of magnetization dynamics through geometry-induced anisotropy and chiral interactions as well as magnetic field modulation. In this work, we report a curvilinear magnonic crystal based on large-area square arrays of truncated nanospikes fabricated by conformal coating of 3D hierarchical templates with permalloy thin films. Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy reveals anisotropic band structure with multiple dispersive and folded Bloch-type dispersive spin-wave modes as well as non-dispersive modes exhibiting direction-dependent frequency shifts and intensity asymmetries along lattice principal axes. Finite element micromagnetic simulations indicate that curvature-induced variations of the demagnetizing field govern the magnonic response, enabling the identification of modes propagating in nanochannels and other localized on nanospike apexes or along the ridges connecting adjacent nanospikes. The combination of geometric curvature and optical probing asymmetry produces directional dependence of magnonic bands, establishing 3D hierarchical templates as a versatile platform for curvature-engineered magnonics. △ Less

Submitted 12 December, 2025; originally announced December 2025.

Journal ref: Nano Letters (2026)

Curvature induced modifications of chirality and magnetic configuration in perpendicular magnetized films

Authors: David Raftrey, Dhritiman Bhattacharya, Colin Langton, Bradley Fugetta, Subhashree Satapathy, Olha Bezsmertna, Andrea Sorrentino, Denys Makarov, Gen Yin, Peter Fischer, Kai Liu

Abstract: Designing curvature in three-dimensional (3D) magnetic nanostructures enables controlled manipulation of local energy landscapes, allowing for the modification of noncollinear spin textures relevant for next-generation spintronic devices. In this study, we experimentally investigate 3D magnetization textures in a Co/Pd multilayer film, exhibiting strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), dep… ▽ More Designing curvature in three-dimensional (3D) magnetic nanostructures enables controlled manipulation of local energy landscapes, allowing for the modification of noncollinear spin textures relevant for next-generation spintronic devices. In this study, we experimentally investigate 3D magnetization textures in a Co/Pd multilayer film, exhibiting strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), deposited onto curved Cu nanowire meshes with diameters as small as 50nm and lengths of several microns. Utilizing magnetic soft X-ray nanotomography, we achieve reconstructions of 3D magnetic domain patterns at approximately 30nm spatial resolution. This approach provides detailed information on both the orientation and magnitude of magnetization within the film. Our results reveal that interfacial anisotropy in the Co/Pd multilayers drives the magnetization towards the local surface normal. In contrast to typical labyrinth domains observed in planar films, the presence of curved nanowires significantly alters the domain structure, with domains preferentially aligning along the nanowire axis in close proximity, while adopting random orientations farther away. We report direct experimental observation of a curvature-induced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), which is quantified to be approximately one-third of the intrinsic DMI in Co/Pd stacks. The curvature induced DMI enhances stability of Neel-type domain walls. These experimental observations are further supported by micromagnetic simulations. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that introducing curvature into magnetic nanostructures provides a powerful strategy for tailoring complex magnetic behaviors, paving the way for the design of advanced 3D racetrack memory and neuromorphic computing devices. △ Less

Submitted 5 August, 2025; v1 submitted 6 June, 2025; originally announced June 2025.

Nematicity of a Magnetic Helix

Authors: Z. Tumbleson, S. A. Morley, E. Hollingworth, A. Singh, T. Bayaraa, N. G. Burdet, A. Us Saleheen, M. R. McCarter, D. Raftrey, R. J. Pandolfi, V. Esposito, G. L. Dakovski, F. -J. Decker, A. H. Reid, T. A. Assefa, P. Fischer, S. M. Griffin, S. D. Kevan, F. Hellman, J. J. Turner, S. Roy

Abstract: A system that possesses translational symmetry but breaks orientational symmetry is known as a nematic phase. While there are many examples of nematic phases in a wide range of contexts, such as in liquid crystals, complex oxides, and superconductors, of particular interest is the magnetic analogue, where the spin, charge, and orbital degrees of freedom of the electron are intertwined. The difficu… ▽ More A system that possesses translational symmetry but breaks orientational symmetry is known as a nematic phase. While there are many examples of nematic phases in a wide range of contexts, such as in liquid crystals, complex oxides, and superconductors, of particular interest is the magnetic analogue, where the spin, charge, and orbital degrees of freedom of the electron are intertwined. The difficulty of spin nematics is the unambiguous realization and characterization of the phase. Here we present an entirely new type of magnetic nematic phase, which replaces the basis of individual spins with magnetic helices. The helical basis allows for the direct measurement of the order parameters with soft X-ray scattering and a thorough characterization of the nematic phase and its thermodynamic transitions. We discover two distinct nematic phases with unique spatio-temporal correlation signatures. Using coherent X-ray methods, we find that near the phase boundary between the two nematic phases, fluctuations coexist on the timescale of both seconds and sub-nanoseconds. Additionally, we have determined that the fluctuations occur simultaneously with a reorientation of the magnetic helices, indicating that there is spontaneous symmetry breaking and new degrees of freedom become available. Our results provide a novel framework for characterizing exotic phases and the phenomena presented can be mapped onto a broad class of physical systems. △ Less

Submitted 30 April, 2025; v1 submitted 19 April, 2024; originally announced April 2024.

Quantifying the Topology of Magnetic Skyrmions in three Dimensions

Authors: David Raftrey, Simone Finizio, Rajesh V. Chopdekar, Scott Dhuey, Temuujin Bayaraa, Paul Ashby, Jörg Raabe, Tiffany Santos, Sinéad Griffin, Peter Fischer

Abstract: Magnetic skyrmions have so far been treated as two-dimensional spin structures characterized by a topological winding number describing the rotation of spins across the skyrmion. However, in real systems with a finite thickness of the material being larger than the magnetic exchange length, the skyrmion spin texture extends into the third dimension and cannot be assumed as homogeneous. Using soft… ▽ More Magnetic skyrmions have so far been treated as two-dimensional spin structures characterized by a topological winding number describing the rotation of spins across the skyrmion. However, in real systems with a finite thickness of the material being larger than the magnetic exchange length, the skyrmion spin texture extends into the third dimension and cannot be assumed as homogeneous. Using soft x-ray laminography we reconstruct with about 20nm spatial (voxel) resolution the full three-dimensional spin texture of a skyrmion in an 800 nm diameter and 95 nm thin disk patterned into a trilayer [Ir/Co/Pt] thin film structure. A quantitative analysis finds that the evolution of the radial profile of the topological skyrmion number and the chirality is non-uniform across the thickness of the disk. Estimates of local micromagnetic energy densities suggest that the changes in topological profile are related to non-uniform competing energetic interactions. Theoretical calculations and micromagnetic simulations are consistent with the experimental findings. Our results provide the foundation for nanoscale magnetic metrology for future tailored spintronics devices using topology as a design parameter, and have the potential to reverse-engineer a spin Hamiltonian from macroscopic data, tying theory more closely to experiment. △ Less

Submitted 26 June, 2023; originally announced June 2023.

Comments: 18 pages, 4 figures

Controlled Ordering of Room-Temperature Magnetic Skyrmions in a Polar Van der Waals Magnet

Authors: Peter Meisenheimer, Hongrui Zhang, David Raftrey, Xiang Chen, Ying-Ting Chan, Rui Chen, Reed Yalisove, Mary C. Scott, Jie Yao, Weida Wu, Peter Fischer, Robert J. Birgeneau, Ramamoorthy Ramesh

Abstract: Control and understanding of ensembles of skyrmions is important for realization of future technologies. In particular, the order-disorder transition associated with the 2D lattice of magnetic skyrmions can have significant implications for transport and other dynamic functionalities. To date, skyrmion ensembles have been primarily studied in bulk crystals, or as isolated skyrmions in thin film de… ▽ More Control and understanding of ensembles of skyrmions is important for realization of future technologies. In particular, the order-disorder transition associated with the 2D lattice of magnetic skyrmions can have significant implications for transport and other dynamic functionalities. To date, skyrmion ensembles have been primarily studied in bulk crystals, or as isolated skyrmions in thin film devices. Here, we investigate the condensation of the skyrmion phase at room temperature and zero field in a polar, Van der Waals magnet. We demonstrate that we can engineer an ordered skyrmion crystal through structural confinement on the $μ$m scale, showing control over this order-disorder transition on scales relevant for device applications. △ Less

Submitted 5 October, 2022; originally announced October 2022.

Comments: 26 pages; 5 main text, 8 supplementary figures

Journal ref: Nat.Commun. 14, 3744 (2023)

Field-driven dynamics of magnetic Hopfions

Authors: D. Raftrey, P. Fischer

Abstract: We present micromagnetic simulations on resonant spin wave modes of magnetic Hopfions up to 15 GHz driven by external magnetic fields. A sharp transition is found around 32 mT coinciding with a transition from Hopfions to magnetic torons. The modes exhibit characteristic amplitudes in frequency space accompanied by unique localization patterns in real space, and are found to be robust to damping a… ▽ More We present micromagnetic simulations on resonant spin wave modes of magnetic Hopfions up to 15 GHz driven by external magnetic fields. A sharp transition is found around 32 mT coinciding with a transition from Hopfions to magnetic torons. The modes exhibit characteristic amplitudes in frequency space accompanied by unique localization patterns in real space, and are found to be robust to damping around topological features, particularly vortex lines in Hopfions and Bloch points in torons. The marked differences in spin wave spectra between Hopfions, torons and target skyrmions can serve as fingerprints in future experimental validation studies of these novel 3d topological spin textures. △ Less

Submitted 27 April, 2021; originally announced April 2021.

Comments: 18 pg, 5 figs

Curvature-mediated spin textures in magnetic multi-layered nanotubes

Authors: Elisabeth Josten, David Raftrey, Aurelio Hierro-Rodriguez, Andrea Sorrentino, Lucia Aballe, Marta Lipińska-Chwałek, Thomas Jansen, Katja Höflich, Hanno Kröncke, Catherine Dubourdieu, Daniel E. Bürgler, Joachim Mayer, Peter Fischer

Abstract: The scientific and technological exploration of artificially designed three-dimensional magnetic nanostructures opens the path to exciting novel physical phenomena, originating from the increased complexity in spin textures, topology, and frustration in three dimensions. Theory predicts that the equilibrium magnetic ground state of two-dimensional systems which reflects the competition between sym… ▽ More The scientific and technological exploration of artificially designed three-dimensional magnetic nanostructures opens the path to exciting novel physical phenomena, originating from the increased complexity in spin textures, topology, and frustration in three dimensions. Theory predicts that the equilibrium magnetic ground state of two-dimensional systems which reflects the competition between symmetric (Heisenberg) and antisymmetric (Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI)) exchange interaction is significantly modified on curved surfaces when the radius of local curvature becomes comparable to fundamental magnetic length scales. Here, we present an experimental study of the spin texture in an 8 nm thin magnetic multilayer with growth-induced in-plane anisotropy and DMI deposited onto the curved surface of a 1.8 μm long non-magnetic carbon nanowire with a 67 nm radius. Using magnetic soft x-ray tomography the three-dimensional spin configuration in this nanotube was retrieved with about 30nm spatial resolution. The transition between two vortex configurations on the two ends of the nanotube with opposite circulation occurs through a domain wall that is aligned at an inclined angle relative to the wire axis. Three-dimensional micromagnetic simulations support the experimental observations and represent a visualization of the curvature-mediated DMI. They also allow a quantitative estimate of the DMI value for the magnetic multilayered nanotube. △ Less

Submitted 24 March, 2021; originally announced March 2021.

Creation and confirmation of Hopfions in magnetic multilayer systems

Authors: N. Kent, N. Reynolds, D. Raftrey, I. T. G. Campbell, S. Virasawmy, S. Dhuey, R. V. Chopdekar, A. Hierro-Rodriguez, A. Sorrentino, E. Pereiro, S. Ferrer, F. Hellman, P. Sutcliffe, P. Fischer

Abstract: Topological solitons have been studied for decades in classical field theories, and have started recently to impact condensed matter physics. Among those solitons, magnetic skyrmions are two-dimensional particle-like objects with a continuous winding of the magnetization, and magnetic Hopfions are three-dimensional topological solitons that can be formed from a closed loop of a twisted skyrmion st… ▽ More Topological solitons have been studied for decades in classical field theories, and have started recently to impact condensed matter physics. Among those solitons, magnetic skyrmions are two-dimensional particle-like objects with a continuous winding of the magnetization, and magnetic Hopfions are three-dimensional topological solitons that can be formed from a closed loop of a twisted skyrmion string. Whereas intense research is underway with magnetic skyrmions towards a fundamental understanding and potential applications in advanced storage and logic devices, the experimental creation and confirmation of magnetic Hopfions has been elusive so far. Theoretical models suggest that Hopfions can be stabilized in frustrated or chiral magnetic systems, and that target skymions can be transformed into Hopfions by adapting their perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Here, we present experimental evidence of magnetic Hopfions that were created in magnetic Ir/Co/Pt multilayers shaped into nanoscale disks, which are known to host target skyrmions. The three-dimensional spin texture, which distinguishes magnetic Hopfions from target skyrmions was confirmed by combining two advanced element-specific magnetic X-ray microscopy techniques with about 20-30nm lateral resolution, using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism effect as magnetic contrast mechanism in surface-sensitive X-ray photoemission electron microscopy and bulk-sensitive soft x-ray transmission microscopy. We anticipate that these results will stimulate further investigations of Hopfions with different topologies and their potential application in three-dimensional spintronics devices. △ Less

Submitted 16 October, 2020; originally announced October 2020.

Comments: 18 pages, 3 figures