Iron borate single crystals: synthesis, effects, and high-tech applications
Seminars
FLNP Joint Laboratory Seminar
Scientific leader: Egor Lychagin
Date and Time: Thursday, 18 December 2025, at 3:00 PM
Venue: Conference Hall, Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics
Seminar topic: “Iron borate single crystals: synthesis, effects, and high-tech applications”
Speaker: Mark Strugatsky (Head of the Condensed Matter Physics Department, Physics and Technology Institute, Vernadsky Crimean Federal University)
Abstract:
Iron borate single crystals, FeBO3, due to the properties of their crystal magnetic structure, are used as models in numerous studies in solid-state physics and magnetism. The results of reserch of surface magnetism; magnetic birefringence of transverse sound – an acoustic analogue of the magneto-optical Cotton-Mouton effect; interaction with the magnetic subsystem of the crystal of longitudinal sound induced by femtosecond laser pulses; the yield of sublattice magnetisations from the basal plane under high pressure discovered using neutron diffraction, and the special features of magnetic resonance will be presented.
Other effects will be discussed as well. In particular, an as-yet-unexplained abnormal decrease in magnetisation induced by lowering temperature was discovered in iron borate-based crystals. The authors believe that this effect can be clearly interpreted using neutron physics methods.
A rare combination of the properties of iron borate allows studying it as an active element in current high-tech devices as well. There is a marked tendency in this area in recent years. The presented crystal is a transparent magnet. The authors succeeded in showing that under certain conditions, it possesses a very strong Faraday effect – a magneto-optical converter. It was recently discovered that iron borate can be quite efficient in spintronic devices. Finally, promising results are currently evaluated for its use in advanced synchrotron complexes as an ideal monochromator of synchrotron radiation. Advances in the latter area will allow devel-oping a new, powerful technique to study the structure and the electronic and magnetic properties of matter – Synchrotron Mössbauer Spectroscopy.
The results of the synthesis of iron borate single crystals will be presented briefly. At present, we develop two techniques for growing this crystal: solution-melt crystallisation that allows for the production of thin single-crystal plates and gas transportation that allows synthesising isometric (bulk) samples. The use of crystals of different shapes significantly expands the capabilities of discovering new effects in this material, increasing its scientific potential.
Iron borate single crystals, FeBO3, due to the properties of their crystal magnetic structure, are used as models in numerous studies in solid-state physics and magnetism. The results of reserch of surface magnetism; magnetic birefringence of transverse sound – an acoustic analogue of the magneto-optical Cotton-Mouton effect; interaction with the magnetic subsystem of the crystal of longitudinal sound induced by femtosecond laser pulses; the yield of sublattice magnetisations from the basal plane under high pressure discovered using neutron diffraction, and the special features of magnetic resonance will be presented.
Other effects will be discussed as well. In particular, an as-yet-unexplained abnormal decrease in magnetisation induced by lowering temperature was discovered in iron borate-based crystals. The authors believe that this effect can be clearly interpreted using neutron physics methods.
A rare combination of the properties of iron borate allows studying it as an active element in current high-tech devices as well. There is a marked tendency in this area in recent years. The presented crystal is a transparent magnet. The authors succeeded in showing that under certain conditions, it possesses a very strong Faraday effect – a magneto-optical converter. It was recently discovered that iron borate can be quite efficient in spintronic devices. Finally, promising results are currently evaluated for its use in advanced synchrotron complexes as an ideal monochromator of synchrotron radiation. Advances in the latter area will allow devel-oping a new, powerful technique to study the structure and the electronic and magnetic properties of matter – Synchrotron Mössbauer Spectroscopy.
The results of the synthesis of iron borate single crystals will be presented briefly. At present, we develop two techniques for growing this crystal: solution-melt crystallisation that allows for the production of thin single-crystal plates and gas transportation that allows synthesising isometric (bulk) samples. The use of crystals of different shapes significantly expands the capabilities of discovering new effects in this material, increasing its scientific potential.