Magnetic order in a frustrated two-dimensional atom lattice at a semiconductor surface

Gang Li, Philipp Höpfner, Jörg Schäfer (), Christian Blumenstein, Sebastian Meyer, Aaron Bostwick, Eli Rotenberg, Ralph Claessen and Werner Hanke
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Gang Li: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
Philipp Höpfner: Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
Jörg Schäfer: Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
Christian Blumenstein: Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
Sebastian Meyer: Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
Aaron Bostwick: Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Eli Rotenberg: Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Ralph Claessen: Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
Werner Hanke: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Two-dimensional electron systems, as exploited for device applications, can lose their conducting properties because of local Coulomb repulsion, leading to a Mott-insulating state. In triangular geometries, any concomitant antiferromagnetic spin ordering can be prevented by geometric frustration, spurring speculations about ‘melted’ phases, known as spin liquid. Here we show that for a realization of a triangular electron system by epitaxial atom adsorption on a semiconductor, such spin disorder, however, does not appear. Our study compares the electron excitation spectra obtained from theoretical simulations of the correlated electron lattice with data from high-resolution photoemission. We find that an unusual row-wise antiferromagnetic spin alignment occurs that is reflected in the photoemission spectra as characteristic ‘shadow bands’ induced by the spin pattern. The magnetic order in a frustrated lattice of otherwise non-magnetic components emerges from longer-range electron hopping between the atoms. This finding can offer new ways of controlling magnetism on surfaces.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2617

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