Abstract
Controlling magnetic states with minimal energy input promises faster and more efficient devices. However, achieving programmable, multi-level spin switching in antiferromagnetic materials remains a challenge. Here we observe both conventional and multi-step type-II spin switching, as well as its coupling with spin reorientation transition, in a 5% manganese-doped single crystal of ytterbium orthoferrite. The stability of ytterbium ions magnetic moments, ensured by its nearly filled 4 f shell, combined with reduced molecular field strength due to manganese substitution, enables controlled reversal of the rare-earth spins. To interpret these observations, we extend the classical Weiss model by introducing distributed effective fields acting on magnetically inequivalent rare-earth components. This generalized framework accounts quantitatively for the multi-step spin switching behavior. Our results demonstrate a pathway to engineer complex spin transitions via internal field modulation, and offer insights into rare-earth-driven spin-state control, potentially useful for polymorphic spin memory and programmable antiferromagnetic switching.
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The supplementary data underlying all main figures and Supplementary Figs. in this study have been deposited in the Figshare repository under the permanent identifier 10.6084/m9.figshare.30938477. All the data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (email: sxcao@shu.edu.cn) upon request.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant numbers 12374116]. X.M. was supported by the fellowship from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [Certificate Number: 2024M751931]. Y.D. was supported by the project Centre for Advanced Laser Techniques (CALT), co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Operational Programme [Grant No. KK.01.1.1.05.0001].
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W.Y. conceived the project, conducted the experiments and the theoretical model, analyzed the data, and wrote the initial draft. H.P. contributed to magnetic measurements. Y.G. carried out the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments with Y.D.’s supervision. X.M., R.J., B.K., and J.G. assisted with data analysis and manuscript revision. S.C. provided overall supervision, contributed to data analysis, and revised the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Communications Physics thanks Krishnamurthy Jyothinagaram and the other anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. A peer review file is available.
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Yang, W., Peng, H., Guo, Y. et al. Observation and extended Weiss modeling of multi-step type-II spin switching in Mn doped YbFeO3. Commun Phys (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-026-02517-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-026-02517-7
