The spin polarization of Pt in Pt/NiFe2O4 and Pt/Fe bilayers is studied by interface-sensitive x-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity to investigate static magnetic proximity effects. The asymmetry ratio of the reflectivity was measured at the Pt L3 absorption edge using circular polarized x-rays for opposite directions of the magnetization at room temperature. The results of the 2% asymmetry ratio for Pt/Fe bilayers are independent of the Pt thickness between 1.8 and 20 nm. By comparison with ab initio calculations, the maximum magnetic moment per spin polarized Pt atom at the interface is determined to be (0.6 ± 0.1) µB for Pt/Fe. For Pt/NiFe2O4 the asymmetry ratio drops below the sensitivity limit of 0.02 µB per Pt atom. Therefore, we conclude, that the longitudinal spin Seebeck effect recently observed in Pt/NiFe2O4 is not influenced by a proximity induced anomalous Nernst effect. In spintronics1 and spin caloritronics 2 pure spin currents can be generated in ferromagnetic insulators (FMIs) by spin pumping 3 , the spin Hall effect 4 and the spin Seebeck effect 5 . Since these spin currents play an important role in spintronic applications, an understanding of the generation, manipulation and detection of spin currents is an important topic of research. A common spin current detection technique uses a nonferromagnetic metal (NM) thin film grown on a ferromagnet (FM). The inverse spin Hall effect 6 converts the spin current into a transverse voltage in the NM. Pt is commonly used as NM due to its large spin Hall angle 7 , but has generated some controversy in the interpretation because of its closeness to the Stoner criterion, which can induce, e.g., Hall or Nernst effects due to the proximity to the FM 8 .For a quantitative evaluation of the spin Seebeck effect (thermal generation of spin currents) one has to exclude or separate various parasitic effects. It is reported 5 that in transverse spin Seebeck experiments a spin current is generated perpendicular to the applied temperature gradient which is typically aligned in-plane. For ferromagnetic metals (FMMs) with magnetic anisotropy, the planar Nernst effect 9 can contribute 10 due to the anisotropic magnetothermopower. Furthermore, out-of-plane temperature gradients due to heat flow into the surrounding area 11 or through the electrical contacts 12 can induce an anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) [13][14][15] or even an unintended longitudinal spin Seebeck effect as recently reported 16 .The longitudinal spin Seebeck effect (LSSE) 17 describes a spin current that is generated parallel to the temperature gradient, which is typically aligned outof-plane to drive the parallel spin current directly into the NM material. For FMMs or semiconducting ferromagnets an ANE can also contribute to the measured voltage 18 . Furthermore, for NM materials close to the Stoner criterion a static magnetic proximity effect in the NM at the NM/FMI interface can lead to a proximity induced ANE 8 . If an in-plane temperature gradient is applied, a proximity induced planar Nernst effect ...

We measure a sequence of quantum Hall-like plateaux at 1/q: 9 >= q >= 2 and p/q = 2/9 fractions in the magnetisation with increasing magnetic field in the geometrically frustrated spin system SrCu2(BO3)2. We find that the entire observed sequence of plateaux is reproduced by solving the Hofstadter problem on the system lattice when short-range repulsive interactions are included, thus providing a sterling demonstration of bosons confined by a magnetic and lattice potential mimicking fermions in the extreme quantum limit.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

The resonant scattering and diffraction beamline P09 at PETRA III is designed for X-ray experiments requiring small beams, energy tunability, variable polarization and high photon flux. It is highly flexible in terms of beam size and offers full higher harmonic suppression. A state-of-the-art double phase-retarder set-up provides variable linear or circular polarization. A high-precision Psi-diffractometer and a heavy-load diffractometer in horizontal Psi-geometry allow the accommodation of a wide variety of sample environments. A 14 T cryo-magnet is available for scattering experiments in magnetic fields.

Spin-orbit entangled magnetic dipoles, often referred to as pseudospins, provide a new avenue to explore novel magnetism inconceivable in the weak spin-orbit coupling limit, but the nature of their low-energy interactions remains to be understood. We present a comprehensive study of the static magnetism and low-energy pseudospin dynamics in the archetypal spin-orbit Mott insulator Sr2IrO4. We find that in order to understand even basic magnetization measurements, a formerly overlooked in-plane anisotropy is fundamental. In addition to magnetometry, we use neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering and resonant elastic and inelastic x-ray scattering to identify and quantify the interactions that determine the global symmetry of the system and govern the linear responses of pseudospins to external magnetic fields and their low-energy dynamics. We find that a pseudospin-only Hamiltonian is insufficient for an accurate description of the magnetism in Sr2IrO4 and that pseudospin-lattice coupling is essential. This finding should be generally applicable to other pseudospin systems with sizable orbital moments sensitive to anisotropic crystalline environments.

α-RuCl 3 is drawing much attention as a promising candidate Kitaev quantum spin liquid [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. However, despite intensive research efforts, controversy remains about the form of the basic interactions governing the physics of this material. Even the sign of the Kitaev interaction (the bonddependent anisotropic interaction responsible for Kitaev physics) is still under debate, with conflicting results from theoretical and experimental studies [5,6,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. The significance of the symmetric off-diagonal exchange interaction (referred to as the Γ term) is another contentious question [16][17][18]. Here, we present resonant elastic x-ray scattering data that provides unambiguous experimental constraints to the two leading terms in the magnetic interaction Hamiltonian. We show that the Kitaev interaction (K) is ferromagnetic, and that the Γ term is antiferromagnetic and comparable in size to the Kitaev interaction. Our findings also provide a natural explanation for the large anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility in α-RuCl 3 as arising from the large Γ term. We therefore provide a crucial foundation for understanding the interactions underpinning the exotic magnetic behaviours observed in α-RuCl 3 .