A new spin on heavy rare earth metals
Phenomena such as giant magnetoresistance in hybrid structures combining ferromagnetic and non-magnetic materials are providing novel capabilities for memory storage, biosensors and more. Heavy RE metals are an interesting family of elements that has received extensive attention recently as well. These metals crystallise into a wide variety of magnetic structures and their unique chemical and physical properties have led to many new applications. However, there is an important gap in the literature regarding the magnetoresistance of RE nanostructures. The EU-funded project 'Spin-transport in inhomogeneous ferromagnets' (MRHELIMAG) was launched to carry out systematic studies in multi-layered RE nanostructures. Scientists set out to test recent theoretical predictions regarding spin-dependent scattering with an eye on microwave oscillator systems for high-frequency communication technology. The team produced high-quality epitaxial films in order to conduct experiments that enabled correlations between magnetoresistance and the magnetic state of the RE multi-layer. The work paves the way to exploration of complex spintronics effects in heavy RE metals and other materials that do not exhibit conventional spin-aligned ferromagnetic order. It also supports characterisation and development of other such material systems with equivalent behaviours that may be closer to commercial applications.
