Chiral Spin Research Articles

Three-terminal magnonic demultiplexer, power divider, and circulator

Spin waves, the collective precession of spins in ordered magnets, have attractive properties and have aroused extensive investigation of using them as data carriers. Lots of signal processing devices based on spin waves have been investigated recently, in which one structure normally realized a single function. Here, we propose and numerically demonstrate a conceptual prototype of one three-terminal magnonic device with three functions: demultiplexer, power divider, and circulator. These magnonic functions in “tuning fork” shaped magnetic waveguide are realized by the interfacial Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction induced chiral spin wave modes of the circular cavity, which results in the difference between the intensity and phase of propagating magnetostatic forward volume spin waves. For the demultiplexer, the dual-frequency spin waves can be effectively separated from the fork handle into the two different fork arms. For the power divider, the single-frequency spin wave can propagated from the fork handle into fork arms with equal amplitude but different phases. For circulators, spin waves excited in different ports propagate unidirectionally and nonreciprocally with a field-controlled chirality of the circulation. Our findings can enrich the investigation of magnonic and spintronic devices.

Direct observation of Néel-type skyrmions and domain walls in a ferrimagnetic DyCo3 thin film

Isolated magnetic skyrmions are stable, topologically protected spin textures that are at the forefront of research interests today due to their potential applications in information technology. A distinct class of skyrmion hosts are rare earth - transition metal (RE-TM) ferrimagnetic materials. To date, the nature and the control of basic traits of skyrmions in these materials are not fully understood. We show that for an archetypal ferrimagnetic material DyCo3 that exhibits a strong perpendicular anisotropy, the ferrimagnetic skyrmion size can be tuned by an external magnetic field. Moreover, by taking advantage of the high spatial resolution of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and utilizing a large x-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD) contrast that occurs naturally at the RE resonant edges, we resolve the nature of the magnetic domain walls of ferrimagnetic skyrmions. We demonstrate that through this method one can easily discriminate between Bloch and Néel type domain walls for each individual skyrmion. For all isolated ferrimagnetic skyrmions, we observe that the domain walls are of Néel-type. This key information is corroborated with results of micromagnetic simulations and allows us to conclude on the nature of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) which concurs to the stabilisation of skyrmions in this ferrimagnetic system. Establishing that an intrinsic DMI occurs in RE-TM materials will also be beneficial towards a deeper understanding of chiral spin texture control in ferrimagnetic materials.

Ultralow Power and Shifting-Discretized Magnetic Racetrack Memory Device Driven by Chirality Switching and Spin Current.

Magnetic racetrack memory has significantly evolved and developed since its first experimental verification and is considered one of the most promising candidates for future high-density on-chip solid-state memory. However, both the lack of a fast and precise magnetic domain wall (DW) shifting mechanism and the required extremely high DW motion (DWM) driving current make the racetrack difficult to commercialize. Here, we propose a method for coherent DWM that is free from the above issues, which is driven by chirality switching (CS) and an ultralow spin-orbit-torque (SOT) current. The CS, as the driving force of DWM, is achieved by the sign change of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, which is further induced by a ferroelectric switching voltage. The SOT is used to break the symmetry when the magnetic moment is rotated in the Bloch direction. We numerically investigate the underlying principle and the effect of key parameters on the DWM by micromagnetic simulations. Under the CS mechanism, a fast (∼102 m/s), ultralow energy (∼5 attoJoule), and precisely discretized DWM can be achieved. Considering that skyrmions with topological protection and smaller size are also promising for future racetracks, we similarly evaluate the feasibility of applying such a CS mechanism to a skyrmion. However, we find that the CS causes it to "breathe" instead of moving. Our results demonstrate that the CS strategy is suitable for future DW racetrack memory with ultralow power consumption and discretized DWM.

Generalized Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya Interaction and Chirality-Induced Phenomena in Chiral Crystals

This paper is a review of recent advances in studies of the magnetic, electronic, spintronic, and phononic properties of chiral crystals, with a focus on the connection between the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI) and chirality in materials. Importantly, a microscopic DMI is elevated to a macroscopic Lifshitz invariant (LI) in chiral crystals, where mirror reflection and inversion symmetry are globally broken. As a consequence, chiral crystals exhibit nontrivial physical responses over a macroscopic scale. Indeed, in chiral magnetism, a chiral spin soliton lattice (CSL) appears in monoaxial chiral magnetic crystals and exhibits various nontrivial physical properties characterized by the coherent and topological nature of the CSL. This CSL isone of the prominent outcomes arising from the DMI and LI, as envisioned by Dzyaloshinskii in the 1960s. Furthermore, a giant spin polarization emerges over a macroscopic scale in a wide range of chiral materials from organic molecules to inorganic crystals. The first-order spatial dispersion, such as the LI, also appears in elastic or phonon degrees of freedom in chiral crystals. These examples show how a time-even pseudoscalar term, which corresponds to a generalized concept of the DMI and LI, is realized in chiral media.

A peculiar topological Hall effect in noncentrosymmetric ternary carbide GdCoC2

A peculiar topological Hall effect (THE) is reported in a noncentrosymmetric ternary carbide GdCoC2. The GdCoC2 reveals a magnetic ordering transition from paramagnetic to ferromagnetic state at the Curie temperature TC = 15.6 K, followed by a commensurate-incommensurate phase transition at Tt = 14.1 K. Below Tt, the competition between an external magnetic field and magnetic interactions, including the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, would give rise to characteristic spin textures with non-zero scalar spin chirality χijk, or even topologically protected spin configurations like skyrmions, for which the exotic spin-charge coupled phenomena are induced. Besides a large negative magnetoresistance (MR) up to ∼−52% at 14 K, a remarkably sharp topological Hall signal is observed with almost no anomalous Hall resistivity below 10 K. The topological Hall resistivity (ρxyT) of GdCoC2 reaches a maximum value of ∼0.23 μΩ cm at 3 K under μ0H = 0.6 T. The mechanism underlying the exceptional THE with relatively large ρxyT value in GdCoC2 is discussed in detail.

Long‐Range Magnetic Exchange Coupling in Quasi‐2D CrTe Ferromagnetic Thin Films

The 2D chromium telluride family (CrxTey) is an outstanding candidate for creating high‐density and dissipationless nanodevices because of its high Curie temperature, chiral spin patterns, and large saturation magnetic moment. However, the precise magnetic exchange mechanism and crucial phase transitional property of CrxTey must be fully analyzed. Herein, a large‐area CrTe (x:y = 1:1) single‐crystalline films deposited on an Al2O3 substrate. Based on the analysis of critical isothermal magnetization around the Curie temperature TC = 201 K and the modified Arrott plot, the precise critical exponents β = 0.386(3) and γ = 1.391(2) are obtained. Both their reliability and accuracy are also verified by Kouvel–Fisher theory, Widom scaling law, and scaling equation. Moreover, using the renormalization group theory, it is confirmed that CrTe belongs to a quasi‐2D Heisenberg‐like behavior with long‐range interactions. Finally, the density functional theory calculations indicate that, near the Fermi level, the CrTe band structure is mainly composed of Cr atom. The spin‐polarized density of states shows that the total magnetic moments are determined mainly by the polarized spin‐up t2g electron of Cr atom. This work is an important asset for a series of CrxTey materials in future spintronic applications.

Tunable chiral photonic cavity based on multiferroic layers.

Realization of externally tunable chiral photonic sources and resonators is essential for studying and functionalizing chiral matter. Here, oxide-based stacks of helical multiferroic layers are shown to provide a suitable, electrically-controllable medium to efficiently trap and filter purely chiral photonic fields. Using analytical and rigorous coupled wave numerical methods we simulate the dispersion and scattering characteristics of electromagnetic waves in multiferroic heterostructures. The results evidence that due to scattering from the spin helix texture, only the modes with a particular transverse wavenumber form standing chiral waves in the cavity, whereas all other modes leak out from the resonator. An external static electric field enables a nonvolatile and energy-efficient control of the vector spin chirality associated with the oxide multilayers, which tunes the photonic chirality density in the resonator.

Chiral superconductivity in the doped triangular-lattice Fermi-Hubbard model in two dimensions

The triangular-lattice Fermi-Hubbard model has been extensively investigated in the literature due to its connection to chiral spin states and unconventional superconductivity. Previous simulations of the ground state of the doped system rely on quasi-one-dimensional lattices where true long-range order is forbidden. Here we simulate two-dimensional and quasi-one-dimensional triangular lattices using state-of-the-art Auxiliary-Field Quantum Monte Carlo. Upon doping a non-magnetic chiral spin state, we observe evidence of chiral superconductivity supported by long-range order in Cooper-pair correlation and a finite value of the chiral order parameter. With this aim, we first locate the transition from the metallic to the non-magnetic insulating phase and the onset of magnetic order. Our results pave the way towards a better understanding of strongly correlated lattice systems with magnetic frustration.

Phase transitions in chiral ferromagnets with topological features of electronic structure (on the example of MnSi)

Magnetic and topological electronic (TEP) phase transitions in chiral ferromagnets with the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction are considered. We consider the example of a chiral helical ferromagnet MnSi with a large Berry curvature of the Fermi surface. It is shown that the state of the spin subsystem with a ferromagnetic short-range order and with Berry phases arises as a result of a first-order transition from a helicoidal ferromagnetic phase with increasing temperature. This state is characterized by left-handed vortex microstructures and manifests itself through the topological Hall effect. In the region of the paramagnetic short-range order, vortex microstructures of both signs of spin chirality arise, which leads to the experimentally observed pattern of partial chirality. With an increase in temperature, TEP appears in the chiral paramagnetic state due to that the chemical potential leaves the region of the electronic spectrum with Berry curvature. As a result, the local magnetization and chiral interaction of the DM disappear. A quantitative agreement has been obtained between the calculations of the temperature dependence of the spin magnetic susceptibility and experimental data.

Chirality reversal of magnetic solitons in chiral Cr1/3TaS2

Ferromagnetism in two-dimensional (2D) materials provides an ideal platform to study emergent electromagnetic phenomena in low dimensions for future spintronics. In magnetic-element intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides, topologically nontrivial spin textures, such as chiral helimagnetic spin states and chiral soliton lattices, are realized due to the chiral lattice distortions induced by intercalated magnetic ions. Consequently, the magnetic chirality is predictably determined by the sign of antisymmetric exchange interaction (or Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, DMI) vector that is coupled to the underlying crystal chirality. Here, using cryogenic Lorentz phase microscopy, we directly observed the chirality reversal behavior of the chiral soliton lattices in Cr1/3TaS2 across the structural defects. We show that a partial 1 T stacking in 2H-TaS2 locally reduces DMI, leading to magnetic chirality reversal with direct atomic resolution imaging. Our experimental results show that manipulation of stacking sequence provides a viable way to control the chirality of topologically nontrivial soliton lattices in 2D magnets.

Unidirectional microwave transduction with chirality selected short-wavelength magnon excitations

Nonreciprocal magnon propagation has recently become a highly potential approach of developing chip-embedded microwave isolators for advanced information processing. However, it is challenging to achieve large nonreciprocity in miniaturized magnetic thin-film devices because of the difficulty of distinguishing propagating surface spin waves along the opposite directions when the film thickness is small. In this work, we experimentally realize unidirectional microwave transduction with sub-micrometer-wavelength propagating magnons in a yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin-film delay line. We achieve a non-decaying isolation of 30 dB with a broad field-tunable bandpass frequency range up to 14 GHz. The large isolation is due to the selection of chiral magnetostatic surface spin waves with the Oersted field generated from the coplanar waveguide antenna. Increasing the geometry ratio between the antenna width and YIG thickness drastically reduces the nonreciprocity and introduces additional magnon transmission bands. Our results pave the way for on-chip microwave isolation and tunable delay line with short-wavelength magnonic excitations.

Coherent two-dimensional THz magnetic resonance spectroscopies for molecular magnets: Analysis of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

To investigate the novel quantum dynamic behaviors of magnetic materials that arise from complex spin-spin interactions, it is necessary to probe the magnetic response at a speed greater than the spin-relaxation and dephasing processes. Recently developed two-dimensional (2D) terahertz magnetic resonance (THz-MR) spectroscopy techniques use the magnetic components of laser pulses, and this allows investigation of the details of the ultrafast dynamics of spin systems. For such investigations, quantum treatment-not only of the spin system itself but also of the environment surrounding the spin system-is important. In our method, based on the theory of multidimensional optical spectroscopy, we formulate nonlinear THz-MR spectra using an approach based on the numerically rigorous hierarchical equations of motion. We conduct numerical calculations of both linear (1D) and 2D THz-MR spectra for a linear chiral spin chain. The pitch and direction of chirality (clockwise or anticlockwise) are determined by the strength and signof the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). We show that not only the strength but also the signof the DMI can be evaluated through the use of 2D THz-MR spectroscopic measurements, while 1D measurements allow us to determine only the strength.

Network of chiral one-dimensional channels and localized states emerging in a moiré system

Moiré systems provide a highly tunable platform for engineering band structures and exotic correlated phases. Here, we theoretically study a model for a single layer of graphene subject to a smooth moiré electrostatic potential, induced by an insulating substrate layer. For sufficiently large moiré unit cells, we find that ultra-flat bands coexist with a triangular network of chiral one-dimensional (1D) channels. These channels mediate an effective interaction between localized modes with spin-, orbital- and valley degrees of freedom emerging from the flat bands. The form of the interaction reflects the chirality and 1D nature of the network. We study this interacting model within an SU(4) mean-field theory, semi-classical Monte-Carlo simulations, and an SU(4) spin-wave theory, focusing on commensurate order stabilized by local two-site and chiral three-site interactions. By tuning a gate voltage, one can trigger a non-coplanar phase characterized by a peculiar coexistence of three different types of order: ferromagnetic spin order in one valley, non-coplanar chiral spin order in the other valley, and 120∘ order in the remaining spin and valley-mixed degrees of freedom. Quantum and classical fluctuations have qualitatively different effects on the observed phases and can, for example, create a finite spin-chirality purely via fluctuation effects.

Towards control of the chirality sign at ultrathin metal films: Bi at 2Ni/Co

Proximity effects can be used to introduce spin–orbit interactions in magnetic metallic layers in contact to a heavy metal (HM). This well known phenomenon has been exploited to induce chiral spin textures at Co ultrathin films, where the left- or right- handedness can be tuned by the HM layer position, based on the broken inversion symmetry of the film and the existence of an additive interface effect. Here we show that structural and chemical features introducing further symmetry reductions can be added to this scenario ultimately enabling control over the definition of a unique winding sense. We focus on 2Ni/Co heterostructures and Bi, a scarcely explored HM metal of large size, to combine a chemically inhomogeneous ferromagnetic stack along the normal to the surface with in-plane asymmetries. Our results are contrasted to 2Co layers combined with Ir.

Spin-Derived Electric Polarization and Chirality Density Inherent in Localized Electron Orbitals.

In solid state physics, any phase transition is commonly observed as a change in the microscopic distribution of charge, spin, or current. However, there is an exotic order parameter inherent in the localized electron orbitals that cannot be primarily captured by these three fundamental quantities. This order parameter is described as the electric toroidal multipoles connecting different total angular momenta under the spin-orbit coupling. The corresponding microscopic physical quantity is the spin current tensor on an atomic scale, which induces spin-derived electric polarization aligned circularly and the chirality density of the Dirac equation. Here, elucidating the nature of this exotic order parameter, we obtain the following general consequences that are not restricted to localized electron systems; chirality density is indispensable to unambiguously describe electronic states and it is a species of electric toroidal multipoles, just as the charge density is a species of electric multipoles. Furthermore, we derive the equation of continuity for chirality and discuss its relation to chiral anomaly and optical chirality. These findings link microscopic spin currents and chirality in the Dirac theory to the concept of multipoles and provide a new perspective for quantum states of matter.

Chiral higher spin gravity and convex geometry

Chiral Higher Spin Gravity is the minimal extension of the graviton with propagating massless higher spin fields. It admits any value of the cosmological constant, including zero. Its existence implies that Chern-Simons vector models have closed subsectors and supports the 3d3d bosonization duality. In this letter, we explicitly construct an A_\inftyA∞-algebra that determines all interaction vertices of the theory. The algebra turns out to be of pre-Calabi-Yau type. The corresponding products, some of which originate from Shoikhet-Tsygan-Kontsevich formality, are given by integrals over the configuration space of convex polygons.

Manipulation and Optical Detection of Artificial Topological Phenomena in 2D Van der Waals Fe5 GeTe2 /MnPS3 Heterostructures.

2D ferromagnet is a good platform to investigate topological effects and spintronic devices owing to its rich spin structures and excellent external-field tunability. The appearance of the topological Hall Effect (THE) is often regarded as an important sign of the generation of chiral spin textures, like magnetic vortexes or skyrmions. Here, interface engineering and an in-plane current are used to modulate the magnetic properties of the nearly room-temperature 2D ferromagnet Fe5 GeTe2 . An artificial topology phenomenon is observed in the Fe5 GeTe2 /MnPS3 heterostructure by using both anomalous Hall Effect and reflective magnetic circular dichroism (RMCD) measurements. Through tuning the applied current and the RMCD laser wavelength, the amplitude of the humps and dips observed in the hysteresis loops can be modulated accordingly. Magnetic field-dependent hysteresis loops demonstrate that the observed artificial topological phenomena are induced by the generation and annihilation of the magnetic domains. This work provides an optical method for investigating the topological-like effects in magnetic structures and proposes an effective way to modulate the magnetic properties of magnetic materials, which is important for developing magnetic and spintronic devices in van der Waals magnetic materials.

Enhanced magnetic anisotropy induced by praseodymium ferromagnetic order and anomalous transport properties in PrMn2Ge2 single crystals

Anisotropic magnetization and anomalous electrical transport properties of flux-grown $\mathrm{Pr}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{2}$ single crystals were investigated. The grown crystals exhibit strong magnetic anisotropy with easy magnetization along the $c$ axis. Linear magnetoresistance (MR) and a conventional anomalous Hall effect (AHE) are observed for $H\text{//}c$ and $I\text{//}b$ in contrast to a nonlinear positive MR and a large planar topological Hall effect (PTHE) observed for $H\text{//}a$ and $I\text{//}b$. The anisotropy of the magnetic and electrical transport properties is increased as temperature decreases because magnetic ordering of Pr atoms brings about an increase of the saturation magnetic field of nonlinear MR and the critical field for the maximum values of PTHE. A scaling analysis using the Tian-Ye-Jin model suggests that the AHE in this compound has a larger intrinsic contribution compared to the extrinsic contribution. The nonlinear positive MRs are attributed to the field-induced nontrivial spin textures. The PTHE is related to the real-space skyrmionic bubbles and the noncoplanar spin texture with nonzero spin chirality. These results demonstrate a magnetic field induced anisotropic magnetoresistance and Hall resistivity and its tunability by the ferromagnetic ordering of rare earth atoms in conical-ordered magnets.

Spin Control and Multifunctional Photocurrent Switch in Chiral Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Perovskites

Chiral-induced spin selectivity effect provides a new strategy for manipulating electron spin, which has potential applications in various spin-related fields. Here, the spin-selective electronic transport and photocurrent response of (R,S-MBA)2PbI4 are investigated systematically by first-principles calculations. The minimum periodic chiral hybrid system has stable spin filtering ability. Different from achiral magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), the resistance of chiral MTJs depends on the chirality of (R,S-MBA)2PbI4 and magnetization arrangement of ferromagnetic electrodes. Additionally, the photon energy and magnetization arrangement of electrodes can be used to switch the spin channel and photocurrent direction. At a photon energy of 3.0 eV, chiral MTJs can transfer from separating spin into outputting highly spin-polarized photocurrent by changing the magnetization arrangement of electrodes. Chiral spin control and multifunctional photocurrent switch of Fe/(R,S-MBA)2PbI4/Fe MTJs provide important information for the design of chiral spintronic and nanoscale electronic devices.

Origin of biological homochirality by crystallization of an RNA precursor on a magnetic surface.

Homochirality is a signature of life on Earth, yet its origins remain an unsolved puzzle. Achieving homochirality is essential for a high-yielding prebiotic network capable of producing functional polymers like RNA and peptides on a persistent basis. Because of the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect, which established a strong coupling between electron spin and molecular chirality, magnetic surfaces can act as chiral agents and be templates for the enantioselective crystallization of chiral molecules. Here, we studied the spin-selective crystallization of racemic ribo-aminooxazoline (RAO), an RNA precursor, on magnetite (Fe3O4) surfaces, achieving an unprecedented enantiomeric excess (ee) of about 60%. Following the initial enrichment, we then obtained homochiral (100% ee) crystals of RAO after a subsequent crystallization. Our results demonstrate a prebiotically plausible way of achieving system-level homochirality from completely racemic starting materials, in a shallow-lake environment on early Earth where sedimentary magnetite deposits are expected to be common.