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Avalanches from the ground state in artificial square ice

ORAL

Abstract

Avalanches are phenomena in which there is a cascade-like transition between two states, and are present in many material systems. Generally, avalanches are pinned at defects. These defects, however, are difficult to control, and thus the study of the avalanche process is rather difficult. In this work, we utilize the customizable nature of artificial spin ice to examine avalanche processes under well-controlled circumstances. Starting with the magnetic ground state of artificial square ice, magnetic force microscopy was performed at remanence after the islands were exposed to increasing magnetic fields. The results are used to study the avalanche processes, and effects of finite system size, as well as the relevant scaling of the avalanche process.

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Presenters

  • Nicholas Bingham

    Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Yale University

Authors

  • Nicholas Bingham

    Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Yale University

  • Jungsik Park

    Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  • Alejandro Simon

    Department of Applied Physics, Yale University

  • William Zhu

    Department of Applied Physics, Yale University

  • Justin Watts

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota

  • Xiaoyu Zhang

    Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Yale University

  • Joseph Batley

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota

  • Karin Andrea Dahmen

    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  • Chris Leighton

    University of Minnesota, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota

  • Peter Schiffer

    Yale University, Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, Department of Applied Physics and Department of Physics, Yale University