# Microscopic theory of magnetic detwinning in iron-based superconductors with large-spin rare earths

## TL;DR

This paper develops a microscopic theory explaining magnetic detwinning in EuFe₂As₂, revealing how biquadratic coupling between Fe and Eu spins enables ultra-low field detwinning and domain reversal.

## Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive microscopic model accounting for non-mechanical magnetic detwinning phenomena in EuFe₂As₂, including the effects of Fe-Eu spin coupling.

## Key findings

- Quantitative explanation of ultra-low detwinning field (~0.1 T).
- Understanding of domain orientation reversal at ~1 T.
- Restoration of low-field domain orientation above 10-15 T.

## Abstract

Detwinning of magnetic (nematic) domains in Fe-based superconductors has so far only been obtained through mechanical straining, which considerably perturbs the ground state of these materials. The recently discovered non-mechanical detwinning in EuFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ by ultra-low magnetic fields offers an entirely different, non-perturbing way to achieve the same goal. However, this way seemed risky due to the lack of a microscopic understanding of the magnetically driven detwinning. Specifically, the following issues remained unexplained: (i) ultra-low value of the first detwinning field of $\sim$0.1$\,$T, two orders of magnitude below that of BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$, (ii) reversal of the preferential domain orientation at $\sim$1$\,$T, and restoration of the low-field orientation above 10$-$15$\,$T. In this paper, we present, using published as well as newly measured data, a full theory that quantitatively explains all the observations. The key ingredient of this theory is a biquadratic coupling between Fe and Eu spins, analogous to the Fe-Fe biquadratic coupling that drives the nematic transition in this family of materials.