MnSi Epitaxial Thin Films: Structure and Magnetic Properties

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:11070073,
            doi = {10.48660/11070073},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/11070073},
            author = {Parsons, Cathryn},
            keywords = {},
            language = {en},
            title = {MnSi Epitaxial Thin Films: Structure and Magnetic Properties},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2011},
            month = {jul},
            note = {PIRSA:11070073 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }
          

Abstract

Epitaxial MnSi grown on Si (111) offers new opportunities in the development of spin-dependent transport in helical magnets. Helical magnets are a class of noncollinear structures that have shown promise as a material for spin-dependent electron transport studies.The helical magnets are of particular interest in spintronics because in these magnets the electron spins spiral about a particular crystallographic direction, this property can allow for control over electron spin. Many interesting magnetic properties can be studied with the combination of thin-film heterostructures and helical magnets. Through use of x-ray diffraction, SQUID magnetometry and transmission electron microscopy, we have observed the structural and magnetic properties of crystalline MnSi thin-films to determine the effects of strain on the magnetic properties. As a result, we have found that epitaxially induced tensile strain results in an increase in the unit-cell volume, and that the atypical strain relaxation behaviour is correlated with a magnetic response.The talk will give a brief outline of the theory/techniques used, and the results gathered.