Inherent Spin-Polarization Coupling in a Magnetoelectric Vortex.

Das, Sujit; Laguta, Valentyn; Inzani, Katherine; Huang, Weichuan; Liu, Junjie; Chatterjee, Ruchira; McCarter, Margaret R; Susarla, Sandhya et al. · Nano Lett · 2022

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Solid-state materials are currently being explored as a platform for the manipulation of spins for spintronics and quantum information science. More broadly, a wide spectrum of ferroelectric materials, spanning from inorganic oxides to polymeric systems such as PVDF, present a different approach to explore quantum phenomena in which the spins are set and manipulated with electric fields. Using dilute Fe<sup>3+</sup>-doped ferroelectric PbTiO<sub>3</sub>-SrTiO<sub>3</sub> superlattices as a model system, we demonstrate intrinsic spin-polarization control of spin directionality in complex ferroelectric vortices and skyrmions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra show that the spins in the Fe<sup>3+</sup> ion are strongly coupled to the local polarization and preferentially aligned perpendicular to the ferroelectric polar <i>c</i> axis in this complex vortex structure. The effect of polarization-spin directionality is corroborated by first-principles calculations, demonstrating the variation of the spin directionality with the polar texture and offering the potential for future quantum analogues of macroscopic magnetoelectric devices.