Picoscale Magnetoelasticity Governs Heterogeneous Magnetic Domains in a Noncentrosymmetric Ferromagnetic Weyl Semimetal

Magnetic Weyl semimetals are predicted to host emergent electromagnetic fields at heterogeneous strained phases or at the magnetic domain walls. Tunability and control of the topological and magnetic properties are crucial for revealing these phenomena, which are not well understood or fully realized yet. Here, a scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope is used to image spontaneous magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of CeAlSi, a noncentrosymmetric ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal candidate. Large metastable domains are observed alongside stable ferromagnetic domains. The metastable domains most likely embody a type of frustrated or glassy magnetic phase, with excitations that may be of an emergent and exotic nature. Evidence is found that the heterogeneity of the two types of domains arises from magnetoelastic or magnetostriction effects. It is shown how these domains form, how they interact, and how they can be manipulated or stabilized with lattice strains estimated to be on picometer levels. This knowledge can be used in designing and fabricating devices made from CeAlSi and related materials for magnetic field sensing and magnetic memory applications.

Automated summary

The study used a scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscope to observe the magnetic properties of CeAlSi, a noncentrosymmetric ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal candidate, revealing metastable magnetic domains with emergent and exotic characteristics. The heterogeneity of the two types of domains is mainly due to magnetoelastic or magnetostriction effects, and these domains can be manipulated or stabilized with picometer-level lattice strains.