Atomic Surface Structures in the Chiral Magnet MnGe

ORAL

Abstract

Recent interest in the B20 family of chiral magnets is driven by their ability to host novel magnetic states including skyrmions. The properties of these states may also be affected by additional DMI or anisotropy effects present at the interface of thin films which themselves depend on the atomic surface structure. Here, we present joint scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) characterization of the B20 MnGe(111) surface. To determine the chemical identity of the surface, we compare atomic corrugation and dI/dV spectroscopy to DFT simulated STM images and layer resolved density of states calculations. In regions with multiple terminations present, the local chirality and stacking order of the film is established by measuring relative topographic step heights and registry of the lattices across the step. In some cases, we also resolve the helical state via spin-polarized imaging using a chromium tip. This allows us to correlate changes in the direction or periodicity of the helices to differences in the surface structures such as strain and termination.

*Funding for this research was provided by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Grant No. 18AP00008

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Presenters

  • Jacob Repicky

    • Ohio State Univ - Columbus

Authors

  • Jacob Repicky

    • Ohio State Univ - Columbus

  • Joseph Corbett

    • Ohio State Univ - Columbus
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University

  • Tao Liu

    • Ohio State Univ - Columbus

  • Noboru Takeuchi

    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
    • National Autonomous University of Mexico Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
    • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • National Autonomous University of Mexico

  • Adam S Ahmed

    • Ohio State Univ - Columbus

  • Jonathan Guerrero Sanchez

    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechology, National Autonomous University of Mexico
    • National Autonomous University of Mexico Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnologia, UNAM
    • Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
    • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
    • UNAM - CCMC
    • Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology National Autonomous University of Mexico

  • Roland Kawakami

    • Ohio State Univ - Columbus
    • Physics, Ohio State University

  • Jay A. Gupta

    • Ohio State Univ - Columbus
    • Department of Physics, The Ohio State University
    • Department of Physics, Ohio State Univ - Columbus