Superposition of Emergent Monopole and Antimonopole in CoTb Thin Films

Yao Guang, Kejing Ran, Junwei Zhang, Yizhou Liu, Senfu Zhang, Xuepeng Qiu, Yong Peng, Xixiang Zhang, Markus Weigand, Joachim Gräfe, Gisela Schütz, Gerrit van der Laan, Thorsten Hesjedal, Shilei Zhang, Guoqiang Yu, and Xiufeng Han
Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 217201 – Published 16 November 2021
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Abstract

A three-dimensional singular point that consists of two oppositely aligned emergent monopoles is identified in continuous CoTb thin films, as confirmed by complementary techniques of resonant elastic x-ray scattering, Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, and scanning transmission x-ray microscopy. This new type of topological defect can be regarded as a superposition of an emergent magnetic monopole and an antimonopole, around which the source and drain of the magnetic flux overlap in space. We experimentally prove that the observed spin twist seen in Lorentz transmission electron microscopy reveals the cross section of the superimposed three-dimensional structure, providing a straightforward strategy for the observation of magnetic singularities. Such a quasiparticle provides an excellent platform for studying the rich physics of emergent electromagnetism.

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  • Received 25 April 2021
  • Accepted 19 October 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.217201

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Yao Guang1,2,*, Kejing Ran3,4,*, Junwei Zhang5, Yizhou Liu1,2, Senfu Zhang6,7, Xuepeng Qiu8, Yong Peng5, Xixiang Zhang7, Markus Weigand9, Joachim Gräfe9, Gisela Schütz9, Gerrit van der Laan10, Thorsten Hesjedal11, Shilei Zhang3,4,†, Guoqiang Yu1,2,12,‡, and Xiufeng Han1,2,12

  • 1Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
  • 2Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • 3School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
  • 4ShanghaiTech Laboratory for Topological Physics, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
  • 5School of Materials and Energy, Electron Microscopy Centre of Lanzhou University and Key Laboratory of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People’s Republic of China
  • 6Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • 7Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
  • 8Shanghai Key Laboratory of Special Artificial Microstructure Materials & School of Physics Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
  • 9Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
  • 10Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
  • 11Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
  • 12Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • zhangshl1@shanghaitech.edu.cn
  • guoqiangyu@iphy.ac.cn

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Issue

Vol. 127, Iss. 21 — 19 November 2021

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