Conical Spin-Spiral State in an Ultrathin Film Driven by Higher-Order Spin Interactions

Y. Yoshida, S. Schröder, P. Ferriani, D. Serrate, A. Kubetzka, K. von Bergmann, S. Heinze, and R. Wiesendanger
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 087205 – Published 22 February 2012
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Abstract

We report a transverse conical spin spiral as the magnetic ground state of a double-layer Mn on a W(110) surface. Using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we find a long-range modulation along the [001] direction with a periodicity of 2.4 nm coexisting with a local row-wise antiferromagnetic contrast. First-principles calculations reveal a transverse conical spin-spiral ground state of this system which explains the observed magnetic contrast. The canting of the spins is induced by higher-order exchange interactions, while the spiraling along the [001] direction is due to frustrated Heisenberg exchange and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

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  • Received 14 October 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.087205

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Y. Yoshida1, S. Schröder2,*, P. Ferriani2, D. Serrate1, A. Kubetzka1, K. von Bergmann1, S. Heinze2, and R. Wiesendanger1

  • 1Institute of Applied Physics, University of Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 11, D-20355 Hamburg, Germany
  • 2Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D-24098 Kiel, Germany

  • *Corresponding author. schroeder@theo-physik.uni-kiel.de

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Issue

Vol. 108, Iss. 8 — 24 February 2012

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