Emergent dynamic chirality in a thermally driven artificial spin ratchet

Gliga, S. et al. (2017) Emergent dynamic chirality in a thermally driven artificial spin ratchet. Nature Materials, 16(11), pp. 1106-1111. (doi: 10.1038/NMAT5007) (PMID:29058727)

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Abstract

Modern nanofabrication techniques have opened the possibility to create novel functional materials, whose properties transcend those of their constituent elements. In particular, tuning the magnetostatic interactions in geometrically frustrated arrangements of nanoelements called artificial spin ice1, 2 can lead to specific collective behaviour3, including emergent magnetic monopoles4, 5, charge screening6, 7 and transport8, 9, as well as magnonic response10, 11, 12. Here, we demonstrate a spin-ice-based active material in which energy is converted into unidirectional dynamics. Using X-ray photoemission electron microscopy we show that the collective rotation of the average magnetization proceeds in a unique sense during thermal relaxation. Our simulations demonstrate that this emergent chiral behaviour is driven by the topology of the magnetostatic field at the edges of the nanomagnet array, resulting in an asymmetric energy landscape. In addition, a bias field can be used to modify the sense of rotation of the average magnetization. This opens the possibility of implementing a magnetic Brownian ratchet13, 14, which may find applications in novel nanoscale devices, such as magnetic nanomotors, actuators, sensors or memory cells.

Item Type:Articles (Letter)
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gliga, Dr Sebastian and Stamps, Professor Robert
Authors: Gliga, S., Hrkac, G., Donnelly, C., Büchi, J., Kleibert, A., Cui, J., Farhan, A., Kirk, E., Chopdekar, R. V., Masaki, Y., Bingham, N. S., Scholl, A., Stamps, R. L., and Heyderman, L. J.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Nature Materials
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:1476-1122
ISSN (Online):1476-4660
Published Online:23 October 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature
First Published:First published in Nature Materials 16(11):1106-1111
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher
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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
629961Artificial spin ice: designer matter far from equilibriumRobert StampsEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/L002922/1S&E P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY
683531Consortium for advanced materials based on spin chiralityRobert StampsEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/M024423/1S&E P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY
717021DYNAMAGSebastian GligaEuropean Commission (EC)708674S&E P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY