Journal Article

FZJ-2025-03926

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Hydrogen Toggling between Yoshimori Spin Spirals and Elliptical Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya Skyrmions in Fe on Ir(110)

Knispel, T. ; Tseplyaev, V. ; Bihlmayer, G.FZJ* ; Blügel, S.FZJ* ; Michely, T. ; Fischer, J. (Corresponding author)

2025
ACS Publ. Washington, DC

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c03355

Abstract: Skyrmions are particle-like spin textures that arise from spin spiral states in the presence of an external magnetic field. These spirals can originate from either frustrated Heisenberg exchange interactions or the interplay between exchange interactions and the relativistic Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, leading to atomic- and mesoscale textures, respectively. However, the conversion of exchange-stabilized spin spirals into skyrmions typically requires magnetic fields that exceed practical laboratory limits. Here, we demonstrate a strategy leveraging hydrogen adsorption to expand the range of magnetic films capable of hosting stable or metastable skyrmions. In a structurally open and anisotropic system of two pseudomorphic Fe layers on Ir(110), spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy combined with ab initio calculations reveals that a right-handed, exchange- stabilized N´eel-type spin spiral propagating along the [110] direction with a 1.3 nm period transitions upon hydrogen adsorption to a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya type spiral with a sevenfold longer period of 8.5 nm. This transition enables elliptical skyrmions to form at moderate magnetic fields.Hydrogenation thus provides a non-volatile mechanism to toggle between distinct magnetic states, offering a versatile platform for controlling spin textures.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Quanten-Theorie der Materialien (PGI-1)

Research Program(s):

1. 5211 - Topological Matter (POF4-521) (POF4-521)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)462692705 - Antiskyrmionen auf Oberflächen durch anisotrope Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya-Wechselwirkungen (462692705) (462692705)
3. 3D MAGiC - Three-dimensional magnetization textures: Discovery and control on the nanoscale (856538) (856538)
4. SFB 1238 B06 - Rastertunnelspektroskopie (B06) (319897474) (319897474)
5. SFB 1238 A01 - Konstruktion von 2D-Heterostrukturen für die Kontrolle elektronischer, optischer und magnetischer Eigenschaften (A01) (319464028) (319464028)
6. SFB 1238 C01 - Strukturinversionsasymmetrische Materie und Spin-Orbit-Phänomene mittels ab initio (C01) (319898210) (319898210)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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