Rotating Magnetization with Lattice Strain

Altering crystal structure of unique magnetic films manipulates magnetization orientation

• Magnetic anisotropy defines the functionality in many
  applications including magnetic data storage, strong
  permanent magnets, and electrical transformers.
• Sr2FeMoO6 (SFMO) and Sr2CrReO6 (SCRO) are unique
  magnetic materials whose strong anisotropy aligns with
  crystalline structure (“magneto‐crystalline anisotropy”)
  that arises from the heavy elements Mo and Re.
• Researchers at The Ohio State University’s Center for
  Emergent Materials have shown that the magnetocrystalline
  anisotropy of SFMO can be manipulated
  (strain‐tuned) to change the direction anisotropy by
  varying the material on which the SFMO is grown
  (substrate).
• They have shown SCRO to have an extraordinarily large
  magneto‐crystalline anisotropy—much larger than any
  other magnetic materials known to date—also by
  manipulating the substrate on which the SCRO is grown.
• The discovery of these new characteristics in SFMO and
  SCRO provides a platform for investigating the
  underlying magnetic interactions in magnet oxides and
  offers the opportunity for new applications.

Changing the material on which SFMO is grown rotates the magnetocrystalline anisotropy