Helical Spin Order Research Articles

Symmetry breaking, slow relaxation dynamics, and topological defects at the field-induced helix reorientation in MnSi

We report a study of the reorientation of the helimagnetic order in the archetypal cubic chiral magnet MnSi as a function of magnetic field direction. The reorientation process as inferred from small-angle neutron scattering, the magnetization, and the ac susceptibility is in excellent agreement with an effective mean-field theory taking into account the precise symmetries of the crystallographic space group. Depending on the field and temperature history and the direction of the field with respect to the crystalline axes, the helix reorientation may exhibit a crossover, a first-order, or a second-order transition. The magnetization and ac susceptibility provide evidence that the reorientation of helimagnetic domains is associated with large relaxation times exceeding seconds. At the second-order transitions residual Ising symmetries are spontaneously broken at continuous elastic instabilities of the helimagnetic order. In addition, on the time scales explored in our experiments these transitions are hysteretic as a function of field suggesting, within the same theoretical framework, the formation of an abundance of plastic deformations of the helical spin order. These deformations comprise topologically non-trivial disclinations, promising novel routes to spintronics applications alongside skyrmions discovered recently in the same class of materials.

Symmetries and hybridization in the indirect interaction between magnetic moments inMoS2nanoflakes

We study the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction between magnetic impurities embedded in $p$-doped transition metal dichalcogenide triangular flakes. The role of underlying symmetries is exposed by analyzing the interaction as a function of impurity separation along zigzag and armchair trajectories, in specific parts of the sample. The large spin-orbit coupling in these materials produces strongly anisotropic interactions, including a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya component that can be sizable and tunable. We consider impurities hybridized to different orbitals of the host transition-metal and identify specific characteristics for onsite and hollow site adsorption. In the onsite case, the different components of the interaction have similar magnitude, while for the hollow site, the Ising component dominates. We also study the dependence of the interaction with the level of hole doping, which supplies a further degree of tunability. Our results could provide ways of controlling helical long range spin order in magnetic impurity arrays embedded in these materials.

Real-space mean-field theory of a spin-1 Bose gas in synthetic dimensions

The internal degrees of freedom provided by ultracold atoms give a route for realizing higher dimensional physics in systems with limited spatial dimensions. Non-spatial degrees of freedom in these systems are dubbed "synthetic dimensions". This connection is useful from an experimental standpoint but complicated by the fact that interactions alter the condensate ground state. Here we use the Gross-Pitaevskii equation to study ground state properties of a spin-1 Bose gas under the combined influence of an optical lattice, spin-orbit coupling, and interactions at the mean field level. The associated phases depend on the sign of the spin-dependent interaction parameter and the strength of the optical lattice potential. We find "charge" and spin density wave phases which are directly related to helical spin order in real space and affect the behavior of edge currents in the synthetic dimension. We determine the resulting phase diagram as a function of the spin-orbit coupling and spin-dependent interaction strength, considering both attractive (ferromagnetic) and repulsive (polar) spin-dependent interactions. Our results are applicable to current and future experiments, specifically with $^{87}$Rb, $^{7}$Li, $^{41}$K, and $^{23}$Na.

Probing the spinor nature of electronic states in nanosize non-collinear magnets

Non-collinear magnetization textures provide a route to novel device concepts in spintronics. These applications require laterally confined non-collinear magnets (NCM). A crucial aspect for potential applications is how the spatial proximity between the NCM and vacuum or another material impacts the magnetization texture on the nanoscale. We focus on a prototypical exchange-driven NCM given by the helical spin order of bilayer Fe on Cu(111). Spin-polarized scanning tunnelling spectroscopy and density functional theory reveal a nanosize- and proximity-driven modification of the electronic and magnetic structure of the NCM in interfacial contact with a ferromagnet or with vacuum. An intriguing non-collinearity between the local magnetization in the sample and the electronic magnetization probed above its surface results. It is a direct consequence of the spinor nature of electronic states in NCM. Our findings provide a possible route for advanced control of nanoscale spin textures by confinement.

Phase transitions and magnetic structures in MnW1−xMoxO4 compounds (x ⩽ 0.2)

Temperature-dependent specific heat, magnetization and neutron diffraction data have been collected in zero magnetic field for polycrystalline samples of MnW1−xMoxO4 (x ⩽ 0.2) solid solution whose end-member MnWO4 exhibits a magnetoelectric multiferroic phase (AF2 phase) between T1 ≈ 8 K and T2 = 12.5 K. In MnW1−xMoxO4, diamagnetic W6+ are replaced with diamagnetic Mo6+ cations and magnetic couplings among Mn2+ (3d 5, S = 5/2) ions are modified due the doping-induced tuning of the orbital hybridization between Mn 3d and O 2p states. It was observed that magnetic phase transition temperatures which are associated with the second-order AF3-to-paramagnetic (TN) and AF2-to-AF3 (T2) transitions in pure MnWO4 slightly increase with the Mo content x. Magnetic specific heat data also indicate that the first-order AF1-to-AF2 phase transition at T1 survives a weak doping x ⩽ 0.05. This latter phase transition becomes invisible above the base temperature 2 K for higher level of doping x ⩾ 0.10. Neutron powder diffraction datasets collected above 1.5 K for a sample of MnW0.8Mo0.2O4 were analyzed using the Rietveld method. The magnetic structure below ≈ 14 K is a helical incommensurate spin order with a temperature-independent propagation vector k = (−0.217(6), 0.5, 0.466(4)). This cycloidal magnetic structure is similar to the polar AF2 structure observed in MnWO4. The AF1 up-up-down-down collinear spin arrangement observed in MnWO4 is absent in our MnW0.8Mo0.2O4 sample.

Antiferromagnetic nuclear spin helix and topological superconductivity inC13nanotubes

We investigate the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction arising from the hyperfine coupling between localized nuclear spins and conduction electrons in interacting $^{13}$C carbon nanotubes. Using the Luttinger liquid formalism, we show that the RKKY interaction is sublattice dependent, consistent with the spin susceptibility calculation in noninteracting carbon nanotubes, and it leads to an antiferromagnetic nuclear spin helix in finite-size systems. The transition temperature reaches up to tens of mK, due to a strong boost by a positive feedback through the Overhauser field from ordered nuclear spins. Similar to GaAs nanowires, the formation of the helical nuclear spin order gaps out half of the conduction electrons, and is therefore observable as a reduction of conductance by a factor of 2 in a transport experiment. The nuclear spin helix leads to a density wave combining spin and charge degrees of freedom in the electron subsystem, resulting in synthetic spin-orbit interaction, which induces non-trivial topological phases. As a result, topological superconductivity with Majorana fermion bound states can be realized in the system in the presence of proximity-induced superconductivity without the need of fine tuning the chemical potential. We present the phase diagram as a function of system parameters, including the pairing gaps, the gap due to the nuclear spin helix, and the Zeeman field perpendicular to the helical plane.

Helical Spin Order from Topological Dirac and Weyl Semimetals.

We study dynamical mass generation and the resultant helical spin orders in topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals, including the edge states of quantum spin Hall insulators, the surface states of weak topological insulators, and the bulk materials of Weyl semimetals. In particular, the helical spin textures of Weyl semimetals manifest the spin-momentum locking of Weyl fermions in a visible manner. The spin-wave fluctuations of the helical order carry electric charge density; therefore, the spin textures can be electrically controlled in a simple and predictable manner.

Giant electronic polarization induced by a helical spin order in SrMn7O12: First-principles calculations

Through first-principles density functional calculations, the magnetic ground state and electronic structure of mixed-valent manganite SrMn7O12 in the rhombohedral symmetry are investigated in detail. Our calculations show clearly that the possible magnetic ground state accommodates a particular helical spin order responsible for the insulating state in SrMn7O12. The giant ferroelectric polarization is revealed, which is almost purely from the electronic contribution rather than the ionic displacements and is closely related to the magnetism. The influence of the on-site Coulomb interaction and spin-orbit coupling on the electronic structure and multiferroicity is also discussed. The present results suggest that SrMn7O12 is a promising multiferroic candidate with desirable properties.

MnTaO2N: Polar LiNbO3‐type Oxynitride with a Helical Spin Order

AbstractThe synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of a polar and magnetic oxynitride MnTaO2N are reported. High‐pressure synthesis at 6 GPa and 1400 °C allows for the stabilization of a high‐density structure containing middle‐to‐late transition metals. Synchrotron X‐ray and neutron diffraction studies revealed that MnTaO2N adopts the LiNbO3‐type structure, with a random distribution of O2− and N3− anions. MnTaO2N with an “orbital‐inactive” Mn2+ ion (d5; S=5/2) exhibits a nontrivial helical spin order at 25 K with a propagation vector of [0,0,δ] (δ≈0.3), which is different from the conventional G‐type order observed in other orbital‐inactive perovskite oxides and LiNbO3‐type oxides. This result suggests the presence of strong frustration because of the heavily tilted MnO4N2 octahedral network combined with the mixed O2−/N3− species that results in a distribution of (super)‐superexchange interactions.

MnTaO2N: polar LiNbO3-type oxynitride with a helical spin order.

The synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of a polar and magnetic oxynitride MnTaO2N are reported. High-pressure synthesis at 6 GPa and 1400 °C allows for the stabilization of a high-density structure containing middle-to-late transition metals. Synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction studies revealed that MnTaO2N adopts the LiNbO3-type structure, with a random distribution of O(2-) and N(3-) anions. MnTaO2N with an "orbital-inactive" Mn(2+) ion (d(5); S=5/2) exhibits a nontrivial helical spin order at 25 K with a propagation vector of [0,0,δ] (δ≈0.3), which is different from the conventional G-type order observed in other orbital-inactive perovskite oxides and LiNbO3-type oxides. This result suggests the presence of strong frustration because of the heavily tilted MnO4N2 octahedral network combined with the mixed O(2-)/N(3-) species that results in a distribution of (super)-superexchange interactions.

Reduced-dimensionality-induced helimagnetism in iron nanoislands

Low-dimensionality in magnetic materials often leads to noncollinear magnetic order, such as a helical spin order and skyrmions, which have received much attention because of envisioned applications in spin transport and in future data storage. Up to now, however, the real-space observation of the noncollinear magnetic order has been limited mostly to systems involving a strong spin-orbit interaction. Here we report a noncollinear magnetic order in individual nanostructures of a prototypical magnetic material, bilayer iron islands on Cu (111). Spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy reveals a magnetic stripe phase with a period of 1.28 nm, which is identified as a one-dimensional helical spin order. Ab initio calculations identify reduced-dimensionality-enhanced long-range antiferromagnetic interactions as the driving force of this spin order. Our findings point at the potential of nanostructured magnets as a new experimental arena of noncollinear magnetic order stabilized in a nanostructure, magnetically decoupled from the substrate.

Helical nuclear spin order in a strip of stripes in the quantum Hall regime

We investigate nuclear spin effects in a two-dimensional electron gas in the quantum Hall regime modeled by a weakly coupled array of interacting quantum wires. We show that the presence of hyperfine interaction between electron and nuclear spins in such wires can induce a phase transition, ordering electrons and nuclear spins into a helix in each wire. Electron-electron interaction effects, pronounced within the one-dimensional stripes, boost the transition temperature up to tens to hundreds of millikelvins in GaAs. We predict specific experimental signatures of the existence of nuclear spin order, for instance for the resistivity of the system at transitions between different quantum Hall plateaus.

Unconventional topological phase transitions in helical Shiba chains

Chains of magnetic impurities placed on a superconducting substrate and forming helical spin order provide a promising venue for realizing a topological superconducting phase. An effective tight-binding description of such helical Shiba chains involves long-range (power-law) hopping and pairing amplitudes which induce an unconventional topological critical point. At the critical point, we find exponentially localized Majorana bound states with a short localization length unrelated to a topological gap. Away from the critical point, this exponential decay develops a power-law tail. Our analytical results have encouraging implications for experiment.

Magnetic-field-induced spontaneous polarization reversal in multiferroicMn0.85Co0.15WO4

The magnetic and ferroelectric properties of the multiferroic system ${\text{Mn}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$${\text{Co}}_{x}$${\text{WO}}_{4}$ ($x=0.135$, 0.15, and 0.17) are studied in magnetic fields ${H}_{c}$ oriented along the monoclinic $c$ axis. ${\text{Mn}}_{0.85}$${\text{Co}}_{0.15}$${\text{WO}}_{4}$, which is right at the phase boundary between two helical spin structures, exhibits a spontaneous sign change of the ferroelectric polarization when cooled in fields ${H}_{c}>$ 25 kOe. The origin of the ferroelectric polarization is studied and two magnetic exchange interactions contributing to the polarization are identified. In ${\text{Mn}}_{0.85}$${\text{Co}}_{0.15}$${\text{WO}}_{4}$, domains of the characteristic helical spin structures, known for $x<0.15$ and $x>0.15$, coexist and form domain boundaries. The contributions of the different domains to the global polarization are determined. The polarization reversal in ${\text{Mn}}_{0.85}$${\text{Co}}_{0.15}$${\text{WO}}_{4}$ can be explained by a combination of various contributions to the polarization and a strong correlation between magnetic domains of different helical spin orders resulting in a smooth transition across the domain walls, which preserves the chirality of the spin spiral.

Possible Evidence for Helical Nuclear Spin Order in GaAs Quantum Wires

We present transport measurements of cleaved edge overgrowth GaAs quantum wires. The conductance of the first mode reaches 2e(2)/h at high temperatures T≳10 K, as expected. As T is lowered, the conductance is gradually reduced to 1e(2)/h, becoming T independent at T≲0.1 K, while the device cools far below 0.1 K. This behavior is seen in several wires, is independent of density, and not altered by moderate magnetic fields B. The conductance reduction by a factor of 2 suggests lifting of the electron spin degeneracy in the absence of B. Our results are consistent with theoretical predictions for helical nuclear magnetism in the Luttinger liquid regime.

Anisotropic Spin Fluctuations in the Quasi One-Dimensional Frustrated Magnet LiCuVO4

We report results of NMR experiments on a single crystal of the quasi one-dimensional frustrated magnet LiCuVO_4. The NMR spectra of ^7Li and ^{51}V nuclei indicate a helical spin order in a magnetic field of 4 T with the helical spin plane perpendicular to the field and a spin-density-wave (SDW) order at 10 T with modulation in the magnitude of the moments aligned along the field, in agreement with earlier reports. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T_1 at ^{51}V nuclei, which is selectively coupled to the transverse spin fluctuations perpendicular to the field, shows a pronounced peak near the helical ordering temperature in the field of 4 T applied along the a-axis. In the field of 10 T, however, such a peak is absent. Instead 1/T_1 at ^7Li nuclei probing longitudinal spin fluctuations shows divergent behavior towards the SDW ordering temperature. These results are qualitatively consistent with the theoretical description that the SDW correlation is due to bound magnon pairs, which produce an energy gap in the transverse spin excitation spectrum.

Helical nuclear spin order in two-subband quantum wires

In quantum wires, the hyperfine coupling between conduction electrons and nuclear spins can lead to a (partial) ordering of both of them at low temperatures. By an interaction-enhanced mechanism, the nuclear spin order, caused by RKKY exchange, acts back onto the electrons and gaps out part of their spectrum. In wires with two subbands characterized by distinct Fermi momenta kF1 and kF2, the nuclear spins form a superposition of two helices with pitches {\pi}/kF1 and {\pi}/kF2, thus exhibiting a beating pattern. This order results in a reduction of the electronic conductance in two steps upon lowering the temperature.

Synthesis, structural and magnetic characterization of highly ordered single crystalline BiFeO3 nanotubes

In this work, we report on the fabrication of highly ordered single crystalline BiFeO3 (BFO) nanotubes by a sol–gel technique using two-step anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as template. We prepared BFO nanotubes with dimensions of 65nm in diameter and 3μm in length, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. The obtained single crystalline nanotubes present the expected pure phase (BiFeO3) as confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). In addition to the antiferromagnetic behavior, the magnetization curves of the BFO nanotubes also present a ferromagnetic response, which holds from 2 to 300K. This desirable behavior is associated to the break of the antiferromagnetic helical spin ordering of the BFO nanotubes. Besides the magnetocrystalline anisotropy, the large length-to-diameter ratio induced an uniaxial shape anisotropy, attested by the applied magnetic field angle measurements.

Enhancement in magnetic and dielectric properties of La and Pr co substituted BiFeO3

This report underlines the systematic studies of crystalline structure, magnetic and ferroelectric properties of polycrystalline Bi1−x−yLaxPryFeO3 ceramic samples, in which x changes continuously from 0 to 0.2 for y=0 and y from 0 to 0.2 for x=0.2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed that La and Pr substitution at Bi site in the ceramic eliminates the usual impurity phases completely. Rietveld refinement of the XRD patterns shows that the crystal structure changes gradually from Rhombohedral (R3c) to Orthorhombic (pbnm) with increasing La and Pr concentration. This transition has significant effects on the multiferroic properties of Bi1−x−yLaxPryFeO3 ceramics. Substantial enhancement in magnetization of Bi1−x−yLaxPryFeO3 has been observed and this is found to be correlated with the evolution of structural phase change with doping of Pr in samples having lanthanum concentration of x=0.2. This leads to the suppression of helical spin order. However, the enhancement in magnetic behavior also takes place due to nanocrystallite nature of Bi1−x−yLaxPryFeO3 (x=0.2, y=0.05–0.2). For the nanocrystallites having sizes lower than 62nm, which is the period of spin cycloid, this spin configuration will get destroyed resulting in the enhancement of magnetization. The studies of microstructures employing SEM and TEM revealed that Bi1−x−yLaxPryFeO3 consists of nano size grained microstructures. It is also found that dielectric constant and dielectric loss get improved by La and Pr co-substitution. The dielectric constant for x=0.0, y=0.0 is 81 which changes to 354 for x=0.2, y=0.15 at 100Hz. Dielectric losses are strongly diminished from 0.960 for x=0.0, y=0.0, 0.321 for x=0.2, y=0.0 and to 0.20 for x=0.2, y=0.05 at 100Hz. This improvement in dielectric properties is likely due to the changes of lattice parameters and suppression of oxygen vacancies caused by La and Pr co substitution.

Pressure-induced ferromagnetism in cubic perovskite SrFeO3and BaFeO3

The spin order in cubic perovskite SrFeO3 and BaFeO3 under high pressure is studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculation with local spin density approximation plus Hubbard U (LSDA+U). At ambient pressure, A-type and G-type helical spin orders are almost degenerate in BaFeO3 whose lattice constant is 3.97{\AA} . When the lattice constant is reduced to 3.85 {\AA} which is same as the lattice constant of SrFeO3 at ambient pressure, G-type helical spin order becomes stable, being consistent with SrFeO3. This is because superexchange interaction is enhanced as compared with double exchange interaction. Phase transition from helical spin state to ferromagnetic state in both SrFeO3 and BaFeO3 takes place if the lattice constant is further reduced to 3.70 {\AA}. This is because reduced local spin moment weakens the contribution from superexchange interaction. Our result agrees with recent experimental result of BaFeO3 under high pressure. Additionally, our calculation predicts that half-metal BaFeO3 at ambient pressure will become a good metal under high pressure