Abstract
AbstractArtificial spin ice (ASI) are nanomagnetic metamaterials with a wide range of emergent properties. Through local interactions, the magnetization of the nanomagnets self-organize into extended magnetic domains. However, controlling when, where and how domains change has proven difficult, yet is crucial for technological applications. Here, we introduce astroid clocking, which offers significant control of ASI dynamics in both time and space. Astroid clocking unlocks a discrete, step-wise and gradual dynamical process within the metamaterial. Notably, our method employs global fields to selectively manipulate local features within the ASI. Sequences of these clock fields drive domain dynamics. We demonstrate, experimentally and in simulations, how astroid clocking of pinwheel ASI enables ferromagnetic domains to be gradually grown or reversed at will. Richer dynamics arise when the clock protocol allows both growth and reversal to occur simultaneously. With astroid clocking, complex spatio-temporal behaviors of magnetic metamaterials become easily controllable with high fidelity.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
General Physics and Astronomy,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Chemistry,Multidisciplinary
Reference38 articles.
1. Ladak, S., Read, D. E., Perkins, G. K., Cohen, L. F. & Branford, W. R. Direct observation of magnetic monopole defects in an artificial spin-ice system. Nat. Phys. 6, 359–363 (2010).
2. Gliga, S. et al. Emergent dynamic chirality in a thermally driven artificial spin ratchet. Nat. Mater. 16, 1106–1111 (2017).
3. Sendetskyi, O. et al. Continuous magnetic phase transition in artificial square ice. Phys. Rev. B 99, 214430 (2019).
4. Heyderman, L. J. & Stamps, R. L. Artificial ferroic systems: novel functionality from structure, interactions and dynamics. J. Phys.: Condensed Matter 25, 363201 (2013).
5. Skjærvø, S. H., Marrows, C. H., Stamps, R. L. & Heyderman, L. J. Advances in artificial spin ice. Nat. Rev. Phys. 2, 13–28 (2020).