Investigation of spin dynamics in hybrid structures based on ferromagnetic semi- conductor (Ga,Mn)As Abstract: This dissertation deals with the study of hybrid ferromagnet/semiconductor structures, which are of particular for spintronics. We focused on heterostructures that contain ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As, which is the most studied model ma- terial from the group of diluted magnetic semiconductors. The main goal of this work was a detailed study of the Optical Spin Transfer Torque (OSTT) phenomenon, which is an optical equivalent of the STT effect, which is used in ferromagnetic metal layers for non-thermal switching of the direction of magnetization. In the first part of the work, we describe experiments aimed at achieving non-thermal control of the direction of mag- netization in (Ga,Mn)As with the contribution of control of magnetic anisotropy using mechanical strain induced by a piezo-transducer (PZT) in hybrid structure (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs/PZT. For this purpose, the preparation of the structure was first opti- mized, which was tested in detail by means of X-ray diffraction and magneto-optical methods. However, we were unable to achieve magnetization switching due to the OSTT phenomenon. In addition, we found that the results measured at low temperature are very poorly reproducible, despite...

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This dissertation uses shocks to explain both the prevalence of radio synchroton emission and dust formation in classical novae, as well as the origin of fast radio bursts. First, we examine the radio lightcurves of nova V809 Cep and find that the peak brightness temperature exceeded 10⁵𝘒, an order of magnitude above what is expected for thermal emission. We argue that the brightness temperature is the result of synchrotron emission due to internal shocks within the ejecta. We then examine the radio lightcurves of seven novae with radio evidence for shocks (QU Vul, V1723 Aql, V5668 Sgr, V809 Cep, V357 Mus, V1324 Sco, PGIR20fbf) and IR/optical evidence for dust formation. We demonstrate that dust formation generally precedes the rise of radio non-thermal emission, and present evidence to suggest that shocks occur prior to the onset of dust formation but that the radio shock emission is initially being absorbed by a layer of photo-ionized gas ahead of the shock. We model the optical depth of the photo-ionized gas to demonstrate that the time required for the photo-ionized gas to become optically thin to radio frequencies can be longer than the time required for dust nucleation; thus, dust appears to form before the shock emission is visible. We further demonstrate that the radio spectral evolution in novae with no evidence for dust formation is markedly different from novae with evidence for shocks, suggesting that in novae without velocity or distance estimates, the radio spectral evolution could be used to constrain the presence of shocks. Finally, we demonstrate that novae with evidence for dust absorption are preferentially inclined edge, on suggesting that both shocks and dust form in the equatorial plane. Since internal shocks in nova ejecta are thought to lead to dust formation, localizing both phenomenon to the equatorial plane strengthens the connection between the two phenomena. We then use Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations to explore the synchroton maser instability as a potential mechanism for the formation of Fast Radio Bursts. Electromagnetic precursor waves generated by the synchrotron maser instability at relativistic magnetized shocks have been recently invoked to explain the coherent radio emission of Fast Radio Bursts. By means of two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we explore the properties of the precursor waves in relativistic electron-positron perpendicular shocks as a function of the pre-shock magnetization σ ≳1 (i.e., the ratio of incoming Poynting flux to particle energy flux) and thermal spread Δᵧ ≡ 𝑘𝑇/𝑚𝑐² = 10⁻⁵−10⁻¹. We measure the fraction 𝑓𝜉 of total incoming energy that is converted into precursor waves, as computed in the post-shock frame. At fixed magnetization, we find that 𝑓𝜉 is nearly independent of temperature as long as Δᵧ ≲ 10¹·⁵ (with only a modest decrease of a factor of three from Δᵧ = 10⁻⁵ to Δᵧ = 10¹·⁵, but it drops by nearly two orders of magnitude for Δᵧ ≳ 10⁻¹. For our reference σ = 1, the power spectrum of precursor waves is relatively broad (fractional width ∼ 1−3) for cold temperatures, whereas it shows pronounced line-like features with fractional width ∼ 0.2 for 10⁻³ ≲ Δᵧ ≲ 10¹·⁵. For σ ≳ 1, the precursor waves are beamed within an angle ≃ σ -⁻¹/² from the shock normal (as measured in the post-shock frame), as required so they can outrun the shock. Our results can provide physically-grounded inputs for FRB emission models based on maser emission from relativistic shocks.

This dissertation investigates how the magnetic properties of strontium hexaferrite change upon the substitution of foreign atoms at the Fe sites. Strontium hexaferrite, SrFe12O19 is a commonly used hard magnetic material and is produced in large quantities (around 500,000 tons per year). For different applications of strontium hexaferrite, its magnetic properties can be tuned by a proper substitution of the foreign atoms. Experimental screening for a proper substitution is a cost-intensive and time-consuming process, whereas computationally it can be done more efficiently. We used the ‘density functional theory’ a first principles based method to study substituted strontium hexaferrite. The site occupancies of the substituted atoms were estimated by calculating the substitution energies of different configurations. The formation probabilities of configurations were used to calculate the magnetic properties of substituted strontium hexaferrite. In the first study, Al-substituted strontium hexaferrite, SrFe12-xAl x O19, with x = 0.5 and x = 1.0 were investigated. It was found that at the annealing temperature the nonmagnetic Al+3 ions preferentially replace Fe+3 ions from the 12k and 2a sites. We found that the magnetization decreases and the magnetic anisotropy field increases as the fraction, x of the Al atoms increases. In the second study, SrFe12-x Gax O19 and SrFe12-x Inx O19 with x = 0.5 and x = 1.0 were investigated. In the case of SrFe12-x Gax O19, the sites where Ga+3 ions prefer to enter are: 12k, 2a, and 4f1. For SrFe12-x Inx O19, In+3 ions most likely to occupy the 12k, 4f1, and 4f2 sites. In both cases the magnetization was found to decrease slightly as the fraction of substituted atom increases. The magnetic anisotropy field increased for SrFe12-x Gax O19, and decreased for SrFe12-x Inx O19 as the concentration of substituted atoms increased. In the third study, 23 elements (M) were screened for their possible substitution in strontium hexaferrite, SrFe12-x Mx O19 with x = 0.5. In each case the site preference of the substituted atom and the magnetic properties were calculated. We found that Bi, Ge, Sb, Sn, and Sc can effectively increase the magnetization, and Cr, P, Co, Al, Ga, and Ti can increase the anisotropy field when substituted into strontium hexaferrite.

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The prominent features of single molecule magnets (SMMs), such as the quantum tunneling of the magnetization (QTM), are conventionally understood through the giant spin approximation (GSA) which considers the molecule as a single rigid spin. This model often requires the inclusion of high order anisotropy terms in the Hamiltonian, a manifestation of admixing of low lying excited states that can be more naturally understood by employing a multi-spin (MS) description i.e. considering the individual spins and the interactions between ions within the molecule. However, solving the MS Hamiltonian for high nuclearity molecules is not feasible due to the enormous dimensions of the associated Hilbert space that put it beyond the capability of existing computational resources. In contrast, low nuclearity systems permit the complete diagonalization of the MS Hamiltonian required to sample the effect of internal degrees of freedom, such as exchange interactions and single ion anisotropies, on the QTM. This dissertation focuses on the study of low nuclearity SMMs in view of understanding these subtle quantum effects. To accomplish this, we have developed a series of magnetic characterization techniques, such as integrated microchip sensors resulting from the combination of two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) Hall-Effect magnetometers and microstrip resonators, capable of performing measurements of magnetization and EPR spectroscopy simultaneously. The thesis bases on a comparative study of two low nuclearity SMMs with identical magnetic cores (Mn4 dicubane) but differing ligands. Notably, one of these SMMs lacked solvent molecules for crystallization; a characteristic that gives rise to extremely sharp resonances in the magnetization loops and whose basic QTM behavior can be well explained with the GSA. On the contrary, the second SMM exhibited mixed energy levels, making a MS description necessary to explain the observations. We have also examined the role of internal degrees of freedom on more subtle QTM phenomena, leading to the explanation of asymmetric Berry-phase interference patterns observed in a Mn4 SMM in terms of a competition between different intermolecular magnetic interactions, i.e. non-collinear zero-field splitting tensors and intramolecular dipolar iii interactions, resulting in astonishing manifestations of the structural molecular symmetry on the quantum dynamics of the molecular spin.

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<p>Ni-Fe alloys have been used in industrial applications over the past century due to their unique mechanical and magnetic properties. Currently, researchers are interested in enhancing the performance of Ni-Fe alloys by modifying their microstructure. An example of this would be the use of ultra-fine nanocrystalline Ni-Fe alloys for magnetic shielding products that are uniquely shaped and cost effective. These nanocrystalline materials usually exhibit good soft magnetic properties, such as high saturation magnetization, low coercivity and good magnetic permeability. The following study has been devoted to the magnetic properties of electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni-Fe alloys.</p> <p>The structure and texture of electrodeposited Ni-Fe alloys was studied by two-dimensional XRD. The Ni-Fe alloys with Fe content from 24.9at. % to 54.2at. % were comprised exclusively of the FCC phase. For 60.2at. % Fe sample, a mixed phase of BCC and FCC structure was found. The lattice parameter increased with increasing Fe content until 54.2at. %, and then decreased due to the presence of BCC structure. The increase in lattice parameter was attributed to the iron replacement of nickel in the Ni crystalline lattice. Texture analysis shows that all Ni-Fe alloys with different Fe content exhibit the fiber texture with a major component of theaxis aligned perpendicular to the sample plane. A second component iswith a significantly lower volume fraction. It also shows that the Ni-Fe alloy with 44.2at. % Fe exhibits the highest volume fraction of random orientation.</p> <p>Magnetic measurements showed that all Ni-Fe nanocrystalline alloys exhibit soft magnetic properties with narrow hysteresis loops. The saturation magnetization increased linearly with increasing Fe content. The magnetization at T = 2K were slightly higher than that at T = 298K. The lowest coercivity~6Oe was obtained at 44.2 at. % Fe content.</p> <p>Good agreement between Random Anisotropy Model (RAM) theory and experimental data for all the Ni-Fe alloys has been obtained. By fitting the high field magnetization curve with the Law of Approach to Saturation (LATS), the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant (K_eff) were obtained. K_eff decreased with increasing temperature. Also, the ferromagnetic exchange lengths for each Ni-Fe alloy were calculated. They are 26nm, 21nm, 19nm, 18nm, 17nm for Ni-24.9at.%Fe, Ni-33.1at.%Fe, Ni-44.2at.%Fe, Ni-54.2at.%Fe, Ni-60.2at.%Fe at room temperature, respectively. The exchange lengths are larger than the average grain size (D) for all of the samples. The results confirmed the feasibility of Random Anisotropy Model for the prediction of the magnetic properties of the nanocrystalline Ni-Fe alloys fabricated by electrodeposition.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)