Efficient manipulation of antiferromagnetic (AF) domains and domain walls has opened up new avenues of research towards ultrafast, high-density spintronic devices. AF domain structures are known to be sensitive to magnetoelastic effects, but the microscopic interplay of crystalline defects, strain and magnetic ordering remains largely unknown. Here, we reveal, using photoemission electron microscopy combined with scanning X-ray diffraction imaging and micromagnetic simulations, that the AF domain structure in CuMnAs thin films is dominated by nanoscale structural twin defects. We demonstrate that microtwin defects, which develop across the entire thickness of the film and terminate on the surface as characteristic lines, determine the location and orientation of 180∘ and 90∘ domain walls. The results emphasize the crucial role of nanoscale crystalline defects in determining the AF domains and domain walls, and provide a route to optimizing device performance.

Central European Institute of Technology Brno University of Technology 612 00 Brno Czech Republic

Diamond Light Source Chilton OX11 0DE UK

Institut für Festkörper und Materialphysik and Würzburg Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct qmat Technische Universität Dresden 01062 Dresden Germany

Institut für Physik Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz 55099 Mainz Germany

Institute of Physics Czech Academy of Sciences 162 00 Praha 6 Prague Czech Republic

MAX 4 Laboratory Lund University 22100 Lund Sweden

School of Physics and Astronomy University of Nottingham Nottingham NG7 2RD UK

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Antiferromagnetic half-skyrmions electrically generated and controlled at room temperature