Magnetostructural domain wall patterning in ferrimagnetic spinels*

The ferrimagnetic spinels Mn3O4 and MnV2O4 are known for their anomalous magnetoresponsive behavior, including strong magnetoelastic and magnetodielectric coupings. Mechanically strained samples of these materials show a real-space separation of the volume into stripe-like regions of alternating magnetization on the nanometer lengthscale. I will show small angle neutron scattering data associating these features with known first order magnetic transitions in these materials, and their control via applied magnetic field. I will then draw a direct connection to bulk magnetic measurements, and demonstrate how these domains can lead to anomalous magnetization behaviors.