Reduced-dimensionality-induced helimagnetism in iron nanoislands

S. -H. Phark (), J. A. Fischer, M. Corbetta, D. Sander, K. Nakamura and J. Kirschner
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S. -H. Phark: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik
J. A. Fischer: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik
M. Corbetta: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik
D. Sander: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik
K. Nakamura: Mie University
J. Kirschner: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract 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.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6183

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