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MA: Fachverband Magnetismus
MA 39: Poster Magnetism II
MA 39.20: Poster
Mittwoch, 11. März 2026, 18:00–21:00, P2
Magnetic Domain Structure of Erbium thin films — •Ujjval Mishra, Patrick Härtl, and Matthias Bode — University of Würzburg, Experimental Physics 2, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
Rare-earth metal (REM) films exhibit diverse magnetic behaviors governed by the indirect RKKY coupling of localized 4f moments, leading to complex long-range order. Building on prior studies of REM surface magnetism [1-5], we investigate the magnetic properties of epitaxial Erbium (Er) thin films. Er, a heavy rare-earth element with two unpaired 4f electrons, crystallizes in a hexagonal close-packed structure and remains paramagnetic above TN=85 K. Below TC=20 K, it adopts a conical ferromagnetic phase with the cone axis parallel to the c direction and a semi-cone angle of 29.6∘ at 6 K [6].
Spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM) reveals a complex domain structure in Er(0001) films epitaxially grown on W(110).
At 4.5 K, domain walls are predominantly pinned to structural defects, while external magnetic fields around 2 T induce a maze-like contrast, confirming their magnetic origin.
These findings highlight the intricate coupling between structural defects and magnetic domain evolution in Er(0001) thin films.
[1] P. Härtl et al., Phys. Rev. B 105, 174431 (2022).
[2] P. Härtl et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 186701 (2024).
[3] P. Härtl et al., Phys. Rev. B 110, 184405 (2024).
[4] P. Härtl et al., Phys. Rev. B 112, 024416 (2025).
[5] P. Härtl et al., Phys. Rev. B 112, 174402 (2025).
[6] W. C. Koehler et al., J. Appl. Phys. 36, 1078 (1965).
Keywords: SP-STM; Surface magnetism; Rare Earth Metals; Erbium; Epitaxial growth