Insight into the Temperature-Dependent Canting of 4f Magnetic Moments from 4f Photoemission

The orientation of the 4f moments offers an additionaldegree offreedom for engineering the spin-related properties in spintronicnanostructures of lanthanides. Yet, precise monitoring of the directionof magnetic moments remains a challenge. Here, on the example of theantiferromagnets HoRh2Si2 and DyRh2Si2, we investigate the temperature-dependent cantingof the 4f moments near the surface. We demonstrate that this cantingcan be understood in the framework of crystal electric field theoryand the exchange magnetic interaction. Using photoelectron spectroscopy,we disclose subtle but certain temperature-dependent changes in theline shape of the 4f multiplet. These changes are directly linkedto the canting of the 4f moments, which is different for the individuallanthanide layers near the surface. Our results illustrate the opportunityto monitor the orientation of the 4f-moments with high precision,which is essential for development of novel lanthanide-based nanostructures,interfaces, supramolecular complexes, and single-molecule magnetsfor various applications.

Automated summary

The study investigates the temperature-dependent canting behavior of the 4f moments near the surface in antiferromagnetic materials HoRh2Si2 and DyRh2Si2. The results reveal the direct correlation between the temperature-dependent changes in the line shape of the 4f multiplet and the canting of the 4f moments. This offers an opportunity for precise monitoring of the orientation of the 4f moments, which is crucial for the development of novel lanthanide-based nanostructures and other applications.