Size-Specific Spin Configurations in Single Iron Nanomagnet: From Flower to Exotic Vortices.

Gatel, Christophe; Bonilla, Francisco Javier; Meffre, Anca; Snoeck, Etienne; Warot-Fonrose, Bénédicte; Chaudret, Bruno; Lacroix, Lise-Marie; Blon, Thomas · Nano Lett · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The different spin configurations in the vicinity of the single-domain/vortex transition are reported in isolated magnetic nanoparticles. By combining chemical synthesis, electron holography in a dedicated transmission electron microscope and micromagnetic simulations, we establish the "magnetic configurations vs size" phase diagram of Fe single-crystalline nanocubes. Room temperature high resolution magnetic maps reveal the transition between single-domain and vortex states for Fe nanocubes from 25 to 27 nm, respectively. An intermediate spin configuration consisting of an ⟨111⟩ vortex is for the first time evidenced.