Abrupt topological transitions in the hysteresis curves of ferromagnetic metalattices.
When a metal is confined to the interstices of an inert colloidal crystal, the intrinsic order parameter(s) of electronic and magnetic phenomena within the metal interact with the structural order parameter of the surrounding (and confining) colloidal crystal. If the magnetic stiffness length is comparable to the colloidal lattice constant, the interplay of competing interactions stabilizes multiple topologically distinct magnetic phases separated by sharp transitions in the hysteresis curves. The colloidal confinement also induces substantial coercivity in metals that are perfectly soft in the bulk.
Han
J E
JE
Department of Physics and Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6300, USA.
Crespi
Vincent H
VH