Surface magnetic structure investigation of a nanolaminated Mn$_2$GaC thin film using a magnetic field microscope based on Nitrogen-Vacancy centers

TL;DR

This study employs Nitrogen-Vacancy center-based magnetic microscopy to analyze the surface magnetic structure of a nanolaminated Mn$_2$GaC thin film, revealing temperature-dependent magnetic behavior near the transition at 214 K.

Contribution

It introduces a magnetic imaging method using NV centers to investigate surface magnetic properties of MAX phase thin films, providing microscopic insights beyond traditional techniques.

Findings

Surface magnetic features fade above 214 K.

NV center microscopy reveals microscopic magnetic field details.

Temperature influences surface magnetic behavior.

Abstract

This work presents a magnetic field imaging method based on color centers in diamond crystal applied to a thin film of a nanolaminated Mn$_2$GaC MAX phase. Magnetic properties of the surface related structures have been described around the first order transition at 214 K by performing measurements in the temperature range between 200 K and 235 K with the surface features fading out by increasing temperature above the transition temperature. The results presented here demonstrate how Nitrogen-Vacancy center based magnetic microscopy can supplement the traditionally used set of experimental techniques, giving additional information of microscopic scale magnetic field features, and allowing to investigate the temperature dependent magnetic behavior. The additional information acquired in this way is relevant to applications where surface magnetic properties are of essence.