Department of Physics and Astronomy: Publications and Other Research

 

Imaging and Control of Surface Magnetization Domains in a Magnetoelectric Antiferromagnet

Ning Wu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Xi He, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Aleksander Wysocki, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Uday Lanke, University of Saskatchewan
Takashi Komesu, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Kirill Belashchenko, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Christian Binek, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Peter Dowben, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Document Type Article

Copyright 2011 American Physical Society

Abstract

We report the direct observation of surface magnetization domains of the magnetoelectric Cr2O3 using photoemission electron microscopy with magnetic circular dichroism contrast and magnetic force microscopy. The domain pattern is strongly affected by the applied electric field conditions. Zero-field cooling results in an equal representation of the two domain types, while electric-field cooling selects one dominant domain type. These observations confirm the existence of surface magnetization, required by symmetry in magnetoelectric antiferromagnets.