In antiferromagnetic spintronics, the read-out of the staggered magnetization or Néel vector is the key obstacle to harnessing the ultra-fast dynamics and stability of antiferromagnets for novel devices. Here, we demonstrate strong exchange coupling of Mn2Au, a unique metallic antiferromagnet that exhibits Néel spin-orbit torques, with thin ferromagnetic Permalloy layers. This allows us to benefit from the well-established read-out methods of ferromagnets, while the essential advantages of antiferromagnetic spintronics are only slightly diminished. We show one-to-one imprinting of the antiferromagnetic on the ferromagnetic domain pattern. Conversely, alignment of the Permalloy magnetization reorients the Mn2Au Néel vector, an effect, which can be restricted to large magnetic fields by tuning the ferromagnetic layer thickness. To understand the origin of the strong coupling, we carry out high resolution electron microscopy imaging and we find that our growth yields an interface with a well-defined morphology that leads to the strong exchange coupling.

Current pulse driven Néel vector rotation in metallic antiferromagnets is one of the most promising concepts in antiferromagnetic spintronics. We show microscopically that the Néel vector of epitaxial thin films of the prototypical compound Mn2Au can be reoriented reversibly in the complete area of cross shaped device structures using single current pulses. The resulting domain pattern with aligned staggered magnetization is long term stable enabling memory applications. We achieve this switching with low heating of ≈20 K, which is promising regarding fast and efficient devices without the need for thermal activation. Current polarity dependent reversible domain wall motion demonstrates a Néel spin-orbit torque acting on the domain walls.

In this paper, we reported on the X-ray photoemission electron microscope (XPEEM) determination of magnetic and luminescence origins for two Co x Zn 1-x O films. The cobalt fraction x of radio frequency co-sputtered samples were 0.86(2) and 0.92(2), respectively. Films were ferromagnetic and semiconductive. Unique narrow green color lines beside the ZnO intrinsic emissions were found with a decay time in microsecond range at room temperature. Origins of magnetic and luminescence properties were determined with XPEEM. The X-ray absorption near edge structure at the Co  L3-edge denoted that Co was partially oxidized, and phase-contrast images together with chemical composition identification further proved that Co and CoO co-existed in the samples. The ferromagnetism was attributed to ferromagnetism of Co clusters partially canceled by the antiferromagnetism of its oxide, and the photoluminescence to bound exciton in ZnO nanoclusters and defect related centers of ZnO nanoclusters in a Co -rich matrix. Present results show possibilities for adjusting magnetic and luminescence properties of Co – ZnO compounds by changing the cobalt concentration.

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