Magnetic x-ray spectroscopy of Gd-doped EuO thin films

E L Arnold; Jonathon Mark Riley; L B Duffy; A I Figeuroa; R Held; K M Shen; D G Scholm; Peter D C King; M Hoesch; G van der Laan; T Hesjedal

doi:10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.9.024410

Magnetic x-ray spectroscopy of Gd-doped EuO thin films

E L Arnold, Jonathon Mark Riley, L B Duffy, A I Figeuroa, R Held, K M Shen, D G Scholm, Peter D C King, M Hoesch, G van der Laan, T Hesjedal^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We present a detailed x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study of the magnetic properties of Gd-doped EuO thin films, synthesized via molecular-beam epitaxy with Gd doping levels up to over 12%. The impact of Gd doping on the electronic and magnetic behavior of EuO is studied using XMCD and magnetometry. Gd doping significantly enhances the Curie temperature (𝑇_C) from 69 K in undoped EuO to over 120 K, driven by increased carrier density, while preserving the high quality of the single-crystalline films. At higher doping levels, a plateau in 𝑇_C is observed, which is attributed to the formation of Eu-Gd nearest-neighbor pairs that limit dopant activation. We also observe a distinctive “double-dome” structure in the temperature-dependent magnetization, which we attribute to both the ferromagnetic ordering of Eu 4⁢𝑓 moments at lower temperatures and the influence of conduction electrons via 4⁢𝑓−5⁢𝑑 exchange interactions at higher temperatures. These findings provide key insights into the mechanisms of carrier-induced magnetic transitions.

Original language	English
Article number	024410
Number of pages	7
Journal	Physical Review Materials
Volume	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.9.024410
Publication status	Published - 24 Feb 2025

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2 Finished

Unveiling the electronic structure of infinite-layer nickelate superconductors
King, P. (PI)
The Leverhulme Trust
1/05/24 → 30/04/28
Project: Standard
RS Phil King: Electronic Structure Engineering of Novel Topological Phases
King, P. (PI)
1/10/18 → 30/09/21
Project: Fellowship
Philip Leverhulme Prize Award: Philip Leverhulme Prize Nomination
King, P. (PI)
The Leverhulme Trust
1/08/16 → 31/07/19
Project: Standard

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@article{e17ff8b4823e4250a6193f68a430f3e0,

title = "Magnetic x-ray spectroscopy of Gd-doped EuO thin films",

abstract = "We present a detailed x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study of the magnetic properties of Gd-doped EuO thin films, synthesized via molecular-beam epitaxy with Gd doping levels up to over 12%. The impact of Gd doping on the electronic and magnetic behavior of EuO is studied using XMCD and magnetometry. Gd doping significantly enhances the Curie temperature (𝑇C) from 69 K in undoped EuO to over 120 K, driven by increased carrier density, while preserving the high quality of the single-crystalline films. At higher doping levels, a plateau in 𝑇C is observed, which is attributed to the formation of Eu-Gd nearest-neighbor pairs that limit dopant activation. We also observe a distinctive “double-dome” structure in the temperature-dependent magnetization, which we attribute to both the ferromagnetic ordering of Eu 4⁢𝑓 moments at lower temperatures and the influence of conduction electrons via 4⁢𝑓−5⁢𝑑 exchange interactions at higher temperatures. These findings provide key insights into the mechanisms of carrier-induced magnetic transitions.",

author = "Arnold, {E L} and Riley, {Jonathon Mark} and Duffy, {L B} and Figeuroa, {A I} and R Held and Shen, {K M} and Scholm, {D G} and King, {Peter D C} and M Hoesch and {van der Laan}, G and T Hesjedal",

note = "Funding: Beamtime awarded on I05 (ARPES) and I10 (XMCD) at the Diamond Light Source, UK (Proposals No. SI16162 and No. NT15481) is acknowledged. P.D.K. further gratefully acknowledges support from the Royal Society (Grant No. UF120096) and the Leverhulme Trust (Grants No. PLP-2015-144 and No. RPG-2023-256). J.M.R. acknowledges the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK, for PhD studentship support through Grant No. EP/L505079/1. L.B.D. acknowledges studentship support from EPSRC (Grant No. EP/G03673X/1) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (UK), and E.L.A. from EPSRC (Grant No. EP/W524311/1) and the Diamond Light Source. The work at Cornell University was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) [Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM)] under Cooperative Agreement No. DMR-2039380.",

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language = "English",

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AU - Arnold, E L

AU - Riley, Jonathon Mark

AU - Duffy, L B

AU - Figeuroa, A I

AU - Held, R

AU - Shen, K M

AU - Scholm, D G

AU - King, Peter D C

AU - Hoesch, M

AU - van der Laan, G

AU - Hesjedal, T

N1 - Funding: Beamtime awarded on I05 (ARPES) and I10 (XMCD) at the Diamond Light Source, UK (Proposals No. SI16162 and No. NT15481) is acknowledged. P.D.K. further gratefully acknowledges support from the Royal Society (Grant No. UF120096) and the Leverhulme Trust (Grants No. PLP-2015-144 and No. RPG-2023-256). J.M.R. acknowledges the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK, for PhD studentship support through Grant No. EP/L505079/1. L.B.D. acknowledges studentship support from EPSRC (Grant No. EP/G03673X/1) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (UK), and E.L.A. from EPSRC (Grant No. EP/W524311/1) and the Diamond Light Source. The work at Cornell University was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) [Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM)] under Cooperative Agreement No. DMR-2039380.

PY - 2025/2/24

Y1 - 2025/2/24

N2 - We present a detailed x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study of the magnetic properties of Gd-doped EuO thin films, synthesized via molecular-beam epitaxy with Gd doping levels up to over 12%. The impact of Gd doping on the electronic and magnetic behavior of EuO is studied using XMCD and magnetometry. Gd doping significantly enhances the Curie temperature (𝑇C) from 69 K in undoped EuO to over 120 K, driven by increased carrier density, while preserving the high quality of the single-crystalline films. At higher doping levels, a plateau in 𝑇C is observed, which is attributed to the formation of Eu-Gd nearest-neighbor pairs that limit dopant activation. We also observe a distinctive “double-dome” structure in the temperature-dependent magnetization, which we attribute to both the ferromagnetic ordering of Eu 4⁢𝑓 moments at lower temperatures and the influence of conduction electrons via 4⁢𝑓−5⁢𝑑 exchange interactions at higher temperatures. These findings provide key insights into the mechanisms of carrier-induced magnetic transitions.

AB - We present a detailed x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study of the magnetic properties of Gd-doped EuO thin films, synthesized via molecular-beam epitaxy with Gd doping levels up to over 12%. The impact of Gd doping on the electronic and magnetic behavior of EuO is studied using XMCD and magnetometry. Gd doping significantly enhances the Curie temperature (𝑇C) from 69 K in undoped EuO to over 120 K, driven by increased carrier density, while preserving the high quality of the single-crystalline films. At higher doping levels, a plateau in 𝑇C is observed, which is attributed to the formation of Eu-Gd nearest-neighbor pairs that limit dopant activation. We also observe a distinctive “double-dome” structure in the temperature-dependent magnetization, which we attribute to both the ferromagnetic ordering of Eu 4⁢𝑓 moments at lower temperatures and the influence of conduction electrons via 4⁢𝑓−5⁢𝑑 exchange interactions at higher temperatures. These findings provide key insights into the mechanisms of carrier-induced magnetic transitions.

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.9.024410

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.9.024410

M3 - Article

SN - 2475-9953

VL - 9

JO - Physical Review Materials

JF - Physical Review Materials

M1 - 024410

ER -

Magnetic x-ray spectroscopy of Gd-doped EuO thin films

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Projects

Unveiling the electronic structure of infinite-layer nickelate superconductors

RS Phil King: Electronic Structure Engineering of Novel Topological Phases

Philip Leverhulme Prize Award: Philip Leverhulme Prize Nomination

Cite this