%0 Journal Article
%A Bode, M.
%A Heide, M.
%A von Bergmann, K.
%A Ferriani, P.
%A Heinze, S.
%A Bihlmayer, G.
%A Kubetzka, A.
%A Pietzsch, O.
%A Blügel, S.
%A Wiesendanger, R.
%T Chiral magnetic order at surfaces driven by inversion asymmetry
%J Nature 
%V 447
%@ 0028-0836
%C London [u.a.]
%I Nature Publising Group
%M PreJuSER-56495
%P 190 - 193
%D 2007
%Z Record converted from VDB: 12.11.2012
%X Chirality is a fascinating phenomenon that can manifest itself in subtle ways, for example in biochemistry (in the observed single-handedness of biomolecules) and in particle physics (in the charge-parity violation of electroweak interactions). In condensed matter, magnetic materials can also display single-handed, or homochiral, spin structures. This may be caused by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, which arises from spin-orbit scattering of electrons in an inversion-asymmetric crystal field. This effect is typically irrelevant in bulk metals as their crystals are inversion symmetric. However, low-dimensional systems lack structural inversion symmetry, so that homochiral spin structures may occur. Here we report the observation of magnetic order of a specific chirality in a single atomic layer of manganese on a tungsten (110) substrate. Spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy reveals that adjacent spins are not perfectly antiferromagnetic but slightly canted, resulting in a spin spiral structure with a period of about 12 nm. We show by quantitative theory that this chiral order is caused by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and leads to a left-rotating spin cycloid. Our findings confirm the significance of this interaction for magnets in reduced dimensions. Chirality in nanoscale magnets may play a crucial role in spintronic devices, where the spin rather than the charge of an electron is used for data transmission and manipulation. For instance, a spin-polarized current flowing through chiral magnetic structures will exert a spin-torque on the magnetic structure, causing a variety of excitations or manipulations of the magnetization and giving rise to microwave emission, magnetization switching, or magnetic motors.
%K J (WoSType)
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%$ pmid:17495922
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000246338700039
%R 10.1038/nature05802
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/56495