Atomic-scale visualization of strain-tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin film
Abstract Crystalline strain is typically considered as an effective approach to engineer low-dimensional antiferromagnets. However, a direct visualization of strained-tailored noncollinear spin textures in antiferromagnetic atomic layers has so far not been achieved. Here, we uncover a strain-induce...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62465-8 |
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| author | Chia-Ju Chen Tim Drevelow Yu-Tung Lin Yi-Pin Chen Tzu-Yen Cheng Yen-Hui Lin Stefan Heinze Pin-Jui Hsu |
| author_facet | Chia-Ju Chen Tim Drevelow Yu-Tung Lin Yi-Pin Chen Tzu-Yen Cheng Yen-Hui Lin Stefan Heinze Pin-Jui Hsu |
| author_sort | Chia-Ju Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Crystalline strain is typically considered as an effective approach to engineer low-dimensional antiferromagnets. However, a direct visualization of strained-tailored noncollinear spin textures in antiferromagnetic atomic layers has so far not been achieved. Here, we uncover a strain-induced transition from a three-dimensional noncollinear spin state in pseudomorphic Mn bilayer to a cycloidal spin spiral with a canted rotation plane in reconstructed Mn bilayer on the Ag(111) surface. These spin states are spatially imaged on the atomic scale by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy revealing the correlation of atomic and magnetic structures. As demonstrated via first-principles electronic structure theory, the three-dimensional noncollinear spin state arises from the superposition of spin spiral and antiferromagnetic order due to higher-order exchange interactions. In reconstructed Mn bilayer, by contrast, the antiferromagnetic order is hindered by interlayer exchange coupling resulting in a pure spin spiral state. Our work highlights the complex interplay of atomic structure, intra- and interlayer exchange, as well as higher-order exchange interactions at antiferromagnetically coupled interfaces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de348e1dc96a497e89c9567466fbac8d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-de348e1dc96a497e89c9567466fbac8d2025-08-20T03:05:10ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-62465-8Atomic-scale visualization of strain-tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin filmChia-Ju Chen0Tim Drevelow1Yu-Tung Lin2Yi-Pin Chen3Tzu-Yen Cheng4Yen-Hui Lin5Stefan Heinze6Pin-Jui Hsu7Department of Physics, National Tsing Hua UniversityInstitute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, University of KielDepartment of Physics, National Tsing Hua UniversityDepartment of Physics, National Tsing Hua UniversityDepartment of Physics, National Tsing Hua UniversityDepartment of Physics, National Tsing Hua UniversityInstitute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, University of KielDepartment of Physics, National Tsing Hua UniversityAbstract Crystalline strain is typically considered as an effective approach to engineer low-dimensional antiferromagnets. However, a direct visualization of strained-tailored noncollinear spin textures in antiferromagnetic atomic layers has so far not been achieved. Here, we uncover a strain-induced transition from a three-dimensional noncollinear spin state in pseudomorphic Mn bilayer to a cycloidal spin spiral with a canted rotation plane in reconstructed Mn bilayer on the Ag(111) surface. These spin states are spatially imaged on the atomic scale by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy revealing the correlation of atomic and magnetic structures. As demonstrated via first-principles electronic structure theory, the three-dimensional noncollinear spin state arises from the superposition of spin spiral and antiferromagnetic order due to higher-order exchange interactions. In reconstructed Mn bilayer, by contrast, the antiferromagnetic order is hindered by interlayer exchange coupling resulting in a pure spin spiral state. Our work highlights the complex interplay of atomic structure, intra- and interlayer exchange, as well as higher-order exchange interactions at antiferromagnetically coupled interfaces.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62465-8 |
| spellingShingle | Chia-Ju Chen Tim Drevelow Yu-Tung Lin Yi-Pin Chen Tzu-Yen Cheng Yen-Hui Lin Stefan Heinze Pin-Jui Hsu Atomic-scale visualization of strain-tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin film Nature Communications |
| title | Atomic-scale visualization of strain-tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin film |
| title_full | Atomic-scale visualization of strain-tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin film |
| title_fullStr | Atomic-scale visualization of strain-tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin film |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atomic-scale visualization of strain-tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin film |
| title_short | Atomic-scale visualization of strain-tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin film |
| title_sort | atomic scale visualization of strain tailored noncollinear spin textures in an antiferromagnetic ultrathin film |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62465-8 |
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