Angular anisotropy landscape of vortex ensembles in polarized small-angle neutron scattering

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Authors: Michael P. Adams, Elizabeth M. Jefremovas, Andreas Michels
Cited by: 1
References: 23

Abstract

We present a symmetry-resolved classification of two-dimensional spin-flip small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) patterns arising from dilute ensembles of spherical nanoparticles hosting magnetic vortex states. Based on a linear vortex ansatz with an axially symmetric distribution of vortex axes and the corresponding analytical expression for the orientationally averaged spin-flip SANS cross section, we show that the angular scattering patterns organize into four distinct symmetry regimes: a fourfold anisotropy corresponding to coherent field-aligned magnetization, vertical and horizontal twofold anisotropies associated with aligned and isotropically distributed vortex ensembles, and an isotropic ringlike condition separating the two twofold regimes. The corresponding symmetry boundaries are obtained analytically and define a compact symmetry landscape in the parameter space of vortex amplitude and vortex-axis distribution width. Comparison with a nonlinear vortex profile shows that these symmetry regions are robust with respect to the detailed radial structure of the vortex core. The angular anisotropies are therefore governed primarily by rotational symmetry and by the statistical distribution of vortex axes, providing a compact and model-transparent classification framework of experimental polarized SANS data.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Quantum superfluid helium dynamics Nuclear Physics and Applications Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism

Publication details

Journal / source
Physical Review Research
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Volume
8
Issue
2
Publication date
9 June 2026
Language
EN