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Measuring the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in a weak ferromagnet

Nature Physics volume 10, pages 202–206 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Magnetism—the spontaneous alignment of atomic moments in a material—is driven by quantum mechanical exchange interactions that operate over interatomic distances. Some magnetic interactions cause1,2, or are caused by3,4, a twisting of arrangements of atoms. This can lead to the magnetoelectric effect, predicted to play a prominent role in future technology, and to the phenomenon of weak ferromagnetism, governed by the so-called Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction5,6,7,8. Here we determine the sign of the latter interaction in iron borate (FeBO3) by using synchrotron radiation. We present a novel experimental technique based on the interference between two X-ray scattering processes, where one acts as a reference wave. Our experimental results are validated by state-of-the-art ab initio calculations. Together, our experimental and theoretical approaches are expected to open up new possibilities for exploring, modelling and exploiting novel magnetic and magnetoelectric materials.

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Figure 1: Atomic and magnetic order in FeBO3.
Figure 2: A schematic view of the experiment carried out on FeBO3.
Figure 3: The major experimental results and simulations for FeBO3.

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Acknowledgements

The work of V.V.M. is supported by the grant program of the President of Russian Federation MK-5565.2013.2, the contracts of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia No. 14.A18.21.0076 and 14.A18.21.0889. V.E.D. is grateful for the grant of the Presidium RAS No. 24 ‘Diffraction of synchrotron radiation in multiferroics and chiral magnetics’. M.I.K. acknowledges financial support by FOM (The Netherlands). We thank the staff of ESRF BM-28 for expert assistance, and Y. Shvyd’ko for the loan of the FeBO3 crystal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. A. V. Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography RAS, Moscow 119333,, Russia

    V. E. Dmitrienko

  2. Faculty of Physics, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991, Russia,

    E. N. Ovchinnikova

  3. Diamond Light Source Ltd, Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,, UK

    S. P. Collins & G. Nisbet

  4. SIMaP, CNRS, Grenoble-INP & UJF, BP 75, Saint-Martin d’Hères cedex 38402, France,

    G. Beutier

  5. European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, BP220, Grenoble Cedex 38043, France,

    Y. O. Kvashnin

  6. Department of Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Mira str. 19, Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia,

    V. V. Mazurenko & M. I. Katsnelson

  7. I. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Hamburg, Jungiusstraße 9, Hamburg D-20355, Germany,

    A. I. Lichtenstein

  8. Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135, AJ Nijmegen NL-6525, The Netherlands,

    M. I. Katsnelson

Authors
  1. V. E. Dmitrienko
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  2. E. N. Ovchinnikova
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  3. S. P. Collins
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  6. Y. O. Kvashnin
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  7. V. V. Mazurenko
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  8. A. I. Lichtenstein
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  9. M. I. Katsnelson
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Contributions

V.E.D. and E.N.O. proposed the project. G.B., S.P.C. and G.N. carried out experimental work at BM-28. S.P.C. carried out experimental work at I16. Y.O.K., V.V.M., A.I.L., M.I.K. performed ab initio calculations. V.E.D. carried out FDMNES calculations. G.B. performed least-squares fitting of model functions to experimental data. G.N. carried out multiple scattering simulations. S.P.C., V.E.D. and V.V.M. wrote the majority of the text.

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Correspondence to S. P. Collins.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Dmitrienko, V., Ovchinnikova, E., Collins, S. et al. Measuring the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction in a weak ferromagnet. Nature Phys 10, 202–206 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys2859

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