Magnetic Dichroism and Spin Structure of Antiferromagnetic NiO(001) Films

We find that Ni $L_2$ edge x-ray magnetic linear dichroism is fully reversed for NiO(001) films on materials with reversed lattice mismatch. We relate this phenomenon to a preferential stabilization of magnetic $S$ domains with main spin component either in or out of the plane, via dipolar interactions. This suggests a way to selectively control spin structures in $3d$ systems with small spin-orbit coupling.

Figure 1

Polarization and temperature dependent Ni $L_2$ edge of 10 ML $\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{O}(001)/30\mathrm{M}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{O}(001)/\mathrm{A}\mathrm{g}(001)$ film. $\theta$ is the angle between light polarization and surface normal.

Figure 2

Polarization and temperature dependent Ni $L_2$ edge of 10 ML $\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{O}(001)/3\mathrm{M}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{O}(001)/\mathrm{A}\mathrm{g}(001)$ film. $\theta$ is the angle between light polarization and surface normal.

Figure 3

Polarization dependent Ni $L_3$ edge of $10\mathrm{M}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{O}(001)/3\mathrm{M}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{O}(001)/\mathrm{A}\mathrm{g}(001)$, and $\theta =90°$ Ni $L_3$ edge of $10\mathrm{M}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}\mathrm{O}(001)/30\mathrm{M}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{O}(001)/\mathrm{A}\mathrm{g}(001)$, at $T=300\mathrm{K}$.