Direct imaging of the first order spin flop transition in the layered manganite La{sub 1.4}Sr{sub 1.6}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7}.
Year: 1999
Type: article
Abstract: The spin-flop transition in the antiferromagnetic layered manganite La{sub 1.4}Sr{sub 1.6}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7} was studied using magnetization measurements and a high-resolution magneto-optical imaging technique. We report the direct observation of the formation of ferromagnetic domains appearing at the first order spin-flop transition. The magnetization process proceeds through nucleation of polarized domains at crystal defect sites and not through the expansion of polarized domains due to domain wall motion. A small magnetic hysteresis is caused by the difference between the mechanisms of nucleation and annihilation of domains in the mixed state. These results establish a direct link between the magnetic structure on the atomic scale as seen in neutron scattering and the macroscopic properties of the sample as seen in magnetization and conductivity measurements.
Language: English
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4300511631