(Fe0.63 Ni0.3 Pd0.07)3 P, or FNPP, is a magnetic material that exhibits complex magnetic structures even at room temperature. This makes the material of interest for spintronics, a field that could enable data processing with significantly lower energy consumption. One potential application is novel magnetic memory devices.
However, generating and modifying the desired structures in a controlled manner remains a challenge. A new study led by HZB has taken a step forward in this regard. The team demonstrated at the world’s only VEKMAG station at BESSY II that a tiny external B-field in the plane of the magnetic patterns is sufficient to change them. The work is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.
The team led by Dr. Florin Radu investigated FNPP samples using soft X-rays and ptychography at BESSY II. The experiments aimed to map the magnetic textures while the sample was exposed to an external magnetic field in specific spatial directions. For this purpose, BESSY II is equipped with a globally unique instrument developed by Radu’s team: the VEKMAG vector magnet can generate a magnetic field of up to 1 T in all three spatial directions.