Staff directory
Regina Galceran Vercher
Visiting Professor
Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
regina.galceran(ELIMINAR)@icn2.cat
Physics and Engineering of Nanodevices
Publications
2024
-
Spin-Orbit Torques and Magnetization Switching in (Bi,Sb)2Te3/Fe3GeTe2 Heterostructures Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy
Guillet, Thomas; Galceran, Regina; Sierra, Juan F; Belarre, Francisco J; Ballesteros, Belen; Costache, Marius V; Dosenovic, Djordje; Okuno, Hanako; Marty, Alain; Jamet, Matthieu; Bonell, Frederic; Valenzuela, Sergio O Nano Letters; 24 (3): 822 - 828. 2024. 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03291.
2016
-
Isothermal anisotropic magnetoresistance in antiferromagnetic metallic IrMn
Galceran R., Fina I., Cisneros-Fernández J., Bozzo B., Frontera C., López-Mir L., Deniz H., Park K.-W., Park B.-G., Balcells L., Martí X., Jungwirth T., Martínez B. Scientific Reports; 6 ( 35471) 2016. 10.1038/srep35471. IF: 5.228
Antiferromagnetic spintronics is an emerging field; antiferromagnets can improve the functionalities of ferromagnets with higher response times, and having the information shielded against external magnetic field. Moreover, a large list of aniferromagnetic semiconductors and metals with Neél temperatures above room temperature exists. In the present manuscript, we persevere in the quest for the limits of how large can anisotropic magnetoresistance be in antiferromagnetic materials with very large spin-orbit coupling. We selected IrMn as a prime example of first-class moment (Mn) and spin-orbit (Ir) combination. Isothermal magnetotransport measurements in an antiferromagnetic-metal(IrMn)/ferromagnetic-insulator thin film bilayer have been performed. The metal/insulator structure with magnetic coupling between both layers allows the measurement of the modulation of the transport properties exclusively in the antiferromagnetic layer. Anisotropic magnetoresistance as large as 0.15% has been found, which is much larger than that for a bare IrMn layer. Interestingly, it has been observed that anisotropic magnetoresistance is strongly influenced by the field cooling conditions, signaling the dependence of the found response on the formation of domains at the magnetic ordering temperature. © 2016 The Author(s).
-
Strain-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in L a2CoMn O6-É thin films and its dependence on film thickness
Galceran R., López-Mir L., Bozzo B., Cisneros-Fernández J., Santiso J., Balcells L., Frontera C., Martínez B. Physical Review B; 93 (14, 144417) 2016. 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.144417.
Ferromagnetic insulating La2CoMnO6-É (LCMO) epitaxial thin films grown on top of SrTiO3 (001) substrates present a strong magnetic anisotropy favoring the out-of-plane (OP) orientation of the magnetization with a large anisotropy field (∼70 kOe for film thickness of about 15 nm). Diminishing oxygen off-stoichiometry of the film enhances the anisotropy. We attribute this to the concomitant shrinkage of the OP cell parameter and to the increasing of the tensile strain of the films. Consistently, LCMO films grown on (LaAlO3)0.3(Sr2AlTaO6)0.7 and LaAlO3 substrates (with a larger OP lattice parameter and compressive stress) display in-plane (IP) magnetic anisotropy. Thus, we link the strong magnetic anisotropy observed in LCMO to the film stress: tensile strain favors perpendicular anisotropy, and compressive stress favors IP anisotropy. We also report on the thickness dependence of the magnetic properties. Perpendicular anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and Curie temperature are maintained over a large range of film thickness. © 2016 American Physical Society.
-
Tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance in La2/3Sr1/3MnO3/LaAlO3/Pt tunnel junctions
Galceran R., Balcells L., Pomar A., Konstantinović Z., Bagués N., Sandiumenge F., Martínez B. AIP Advances; 6 (4, 045305) 2016. 10.1063/1.4946851. IF: 1.444
The magnetotransport properties of La2/3Sr1/3MnO3(LSMO)/ LaAlO3(LAO)/Pt tunneling junctions have been analyzed as a function of temperature and magnetic field. The junctions exhibit magnetoresistance (MR) values of about 37%, at H=90 kOe at low temperature. However, the temperature dependence of MR indicates a clear distinct origin than that of conventional colossal MR. In addition, tunneling anisotropic MR (TAMR) values around 4% are found at low temperature and its angular dependence reflects the expected uniaxial anisotropy. The use of TAMR response could be an alternative of much easier technological implementation than conventional MTJs since only one magnetic electrode is required, thus opening the door to the implementation of more versatile devices. However, further studies are required in order to improve the strong temperature dependence at the present stage. © 2016 Author(s).
2015
-
Enhanced conduction and ferromagnetic order at (100)-type twin walls in L a0.7 S r0.3Mn O3 thin films
Balcells L., Paradinas M., Baguès N., Domingo N., Moreno R., Galceran R., Walls M., Santiso J., Konstantinovic Z., Pomar A., Casanove M.-J., Ocal C., Martínez B., Sandiumenge F. Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics; 92 (7, 075111) 2015. 10.1103/PhysRevB.92.075111. IF: 3.736
There is increasing evidence supporting the strong potential of twin walls in ferroic materials as distinct, spatially tunable, functional elements in future electronic devices. Here, we report an increase of about one order of magnitude in conductivity and more robust magnetic interactions at (100)-type twin walls in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films. The nature and microscopic origin of such distinctive behavior is investigated by combining conductive, magnetic, and force modulation scanning force microscopies with transmission electron microscopy techniques. Our analyses indicate that the observed behavior is due to a severe compressive strained state within an ∼1nm slab of material centered at the twin walls, promoting stronger Mn 3d-O2p orbital overlapping leading to a broader bandwidth and enhanced magnetic interactions. © 2015 American Physical Society.