What the study found
The study found that Mn3NiN forms a disordered, dendritic magnetic domain structure as it cools through a ferrimagnetic to non-collinear antiferromagnetic phase transition. The domain roughness increases on cooling and reaches a saturated value in the non-collinear phase.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say this matters because unconventional magnetic materials such as non-collinear antiferromagnets, p-wave magnets, and altermagnets are being explored for quantum spintronics and hybrid quantum devices. The study suggests that control over magnetic domain state is critical because the materials' symmetry-driven properties vanish in a multi-domain limit.
What the researchers tested
The researchers examined the ferrimagnetic to non-collinear antiferromagnetic phase transition of Mn3NiN using scanning nitrogen-vacancy centre magnetometry, a technique that maps local magnetic fields with nanoscale resolution. They also compared the local stray fields with global magnetometry and anomalous Hall effect measurements.
What worked and what didn't
The nanoscale measurements showed a dendritic domain pattern, and its fractal dimension steadily increased during cooling, reaching about 1.55 in the non-collinear phase. However, the domain area distribution did not show significant changes, and the observed behavior could not be explained by the balance of demagnetisation energy and domain wall energy.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe experimental limitations in detail. The authors conclude that elastic contributions and defects are likely critical for explaining domain size, but the summary does not provide further evidence or scope beyond Mn3NiN.
Key points
- Mn3NiN develops a disordered dendritic magnetic domain structure during cooling through a phase transition.
- Domain roughness increases on cooling and saturates at a fractal dimension of about 1.55 in the non-collinear phase.
- The domain area distribution does not show significant changes across the transition.
- Scanning nitrogen-vacancy centre magnetometry was used to map local stray fields at the nanoscale.
- The authors conclude that elastic contributions and defects are critical to explain the domain size.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Dendritic magnetic domains form in Mn3NiN during phase transition
- Authors:
- Freya Johnson, Jan Zemen, Helena S. Knowles, L. F. Cohen
- Institutions:
- Czech Technical University in Prague, Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Cambridge
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-24
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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