Self-induced spin glass state in elemental and crystalline neodymium

TL;DR

This paper reports a novel spin-Q glass state in crystalline neodymium, visualized through advanced microscopy and simulations, revealing intrinsic glassiness linked to crystalline symmetry without extrinsic disorder.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a self-induced spin glass state in elemental neodymium, demonstrating intrinsic glassiness in a crystalline metal without disorder.

Findings

Visualization of atomic-scale non-collinear magnetic order

Correlation of glassiness with crystalline symmetry

Observation of aging phenomena in neodymium

Abstract

Spin glasses are a highly complex magnetic state of matter, intricately linked to spin frustration and structural disorder. They exhibit no long-range order and exude aging phenomena, distinguishing them from quantum spin liquids. We report a new type of spin glass state, the spin-Q glass, observable in bulk-like crystalline metallic neodymium thick films. Using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy combined with ab initio calculations and atomistic spin-dynamics simulations, we visualize the variations in atomic-scale non-collinear order and its response to magnetic field and temperature. We quantify the aging phenomena relating the glassiness to crystalline symmetry and the energy landscape. This result not only resolves the long-standing debate of the magnetism of neodymium, but also suggests that glassiness may arise in other magnetic solids lacking extrinsic disorder.