Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field
Abstract The intertwined nature of magnetic and electric degrees of freedom in magnetoelectric (ME) materials is well described by ME-coupling theory. When an external electric field is applied to a ME material, the ME coupling induces unique and intriguing magnetic responses. Such responses underpi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60288-1 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850137922405138432 |
|---|---|
| author | Samuel H. Moody Matthew T. Littlehales Daniel A. Mayoh Geetha Balakrishnan Diego Alba Venero Peter D. Hatton Jonathan S. White |
| author_facet | Samuel H. Moody Matthew T. Littlehales Daniel A. Mayoh Geetha Balakrishnan Diego Alba Venero Peter D. Hatton Jonathan S. White |
| author_sort | Samuel H. Moody |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The intertwined nature of magnetic and electric degrees of freedom in magnetoelectric (ME) materials is well described by ME-coupling theory. When an external electric field is applied to a ME material, the ME coupling induces unique and intriguing magnetic responses. Such responses underpin the utilisation of ME materials across diverse applications, ranging from electromagnetic sensing to low-energy digital memory technologies. Here, we use small angle neutron scattering and discover a novel magnetic response within an archetypal chiral ME material, Cu2OSeO3. We find that the propagation direction of an incommensurate magnetic spiral is deterministically actuated and deflected along controllable trajectories. Furthermore, we predict the emergence of distinct non-linear regimes of spiral-deflection behaviour with external electric and magnetic fields, unlocking innovative devices that leverage controlled and customisable variations in macroscopic polarisation and magnetisation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a348eff899f54d199bbdffe38f5a9e80 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-a348eff899f54d199bbdffe38f5a9e802025-08-20T02:30:42ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-06-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-60288-1Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric fieldSamuel H. Moody0Matthew T. Littlehales1Daniel A. Mayoh2Geetha Balakrishnan3Diego Alba Venero4Peter D. Hatton5Jonathan S. White6Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging (LNS), PSI Center for Neutron & Muon Science, Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI)Department of Physics, Durham UniversityDepartment of Physics, University of WarwickDepartment of Physics, University of WarwickISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton LaboratoryDepartment of Physics, Durham UniversityLaboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging (LNS), PSI Center for Neutron & Muon Science, Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI)Abstract The intertwined nature of magnetic and electric degrees of freedom in magnetoelectric (ME) materials is well described by ME-coupling theory. When an external electric field is applied to a ME material, the ME coupling induces unique and intriguing magnetic responses. Such responses underpin the utilisation of ME materials across diverse applications, ranging from electromagnetic sensing to low-energy digital memory technologies. Here, we use small angle neutron scattering and discover a novel magnetic response within an archetypal chiral ME material, Cu2OSeO3. We find that the propagation direction of an incommensurate magnetic spiral is deterministically actuated and deflected along controllable trajectories. Furthermore, we predict the emergence of distinct non-linear regimes of spiral-deflection behaviour with external electric and magnetic fields, unlocking innovative devices that leverage controlled and customisable variations in macroscopic polarisation and magnetisation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60288-1 |
| spellingShingle | Samuel H. Moody Matthew T. Littlehales Daniel A. Mayoh Geetha Balakrishnan Diego Alba Venero Peter D. Hatton Jonathan S. White Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field Nature Communications |
| title | Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field |
| title_full | Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field |
| title_fullStr | Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field |
| title_full_unstemmed | Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field |
| title_short | Deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field |
| title_sort | deterministic control of nanomagnetic spiral trajectories using an electric field |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60288-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samuelhmoody deterministiccontrolofnanomagneticspiraltrajectoriesusinganelectricfield AT matthewtlittlehales deterministiccontrolofnanomagneticspiraltrajectoriesusinganelectricfield AT danielamayoh deterministiccontrolofnanomagneticspiraltrajectoriesusinganelectricfield AT geethabalakrishnan deterministiccontrolofnanomagneticspiraltrajectoriesusinganelectricfield AT diegoalbavenero deterministiccontrolofnanomagneticspiraltrajectoriesusinganelectricfield AT peterdhatton deterministiccontrolofnanomagneticspiraltrajectoriesusinganelectricfield AT jonathanswhite deterministiccontrolofnanomagneticspiraltrajectoriesusinganelectricfield |