Chiral magnetic soliton lattice on a chiral helimagnet

Phys Rev Lett. 2012 Mar 9;108(10):107202. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.107202. Epub 2012 Mar 5.

Abstract

Using Lorenz microscopy and small-angle electron diffraction, we directly present that the chiral magnetic soliton lattice (CSL) continuously evolves from a chiral helimagnetic structure in small magnetic fields in Cr(1/3)NbS2. An incommensurate CSL undergoes a phase transition to a commensurate ferromagnetic state at the critical field strength. The period of a CSL, which exerts an effective potential for itinerant spins, is tuned by simply changing the field strength. Chiral magnetic orders observed do not exhibit any structural dislocation, indicating their high stability and robustness in Cr(1/3)NbS2.

MeSH terms

  • Chromium Compounds / chemistry
  • Crystallization
  • Magnetic Fields*
  • Magnets / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Niobium / chemistry
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Sulfides / chemistry
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Chromium Compounds
  • Sulfides
  • Niobium