Leader: Vladimir Zhaketov
Work phone number: +7 (496) 216-28-75
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Scientific problem:
The investigation of multilayer magnetic heterostructures is relevant due to the rich physics of the phenomena involved and their widespread use in electronics and spintronics. It is important to emphasize that such systems are inhomogeneous, both in the structural depth due to the mutual diffusion of elements at interlayer boundaries and in the structural plane due to the production of clusters, magnetic domains, others. Various experimental techniques are used for studying such structures but most of them allow estimating either only the macroscopic magnetic parameters of the system (SQUID, VSM, others) or only the nonmagnetic microscopic structure (XRR, others). Polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) is a universal technique in this case, allowing one to estimate the magnetic profile of the structure in a direction perpendicular to its plane, while the non-specular neutron scattering pattern in grazing geometry allows one to estimate the parameters of in-plane structural inhomogeneities. However, PNR also has a significant drawback: it is unable to estimate elemental profiles across the structural depth. The research problem addressed in this paper is to expand the capabilities of studying layered structures with the use of polarized neutron reflectometry. In this regard, it is proposed to develop a technique for estimating the spatial distribution of isotopes. This technique involves irradiating the structure with neutrons, developing a standing neutron wave mode, as well as registers the neutrons reflected from the structure and the secondary radiation from atomic nuclei produced after neutron capture. The paper also proposes the development of extra modes: neutron reflectometry in static and oscillating magnetic fields and neutron spin echo in grazing geometry.
Objective:
The aim of the project is to develop additional modes in polarized neutron reflectometry to estimate the magnetic profiles of the system and the distribution of concentrations of individual isotopes.
Tasks:
1. Development of secondary radiation detection techniques in neutron reflectometry.
2. Development of neutron reflectometry in static and oscillating magnetic fields.
3. Development of neutron spin echo techniques in grazing geometry.
Research facilities: