Professor Thorsten Hesjedal FInstP

Abstract:

Magnetic skyrmions are two-dimensional magnetization swirls that stack in the form of tubes in the third dimension, and which are proposed as prospective information carriers for nonvolatile memory devices due to their unique topological properties. From resonant elastic x-ray scattering measurements on Cu2OSeO3 with an in-plane magnetic field we find that a state of perpendicularly ordered skyrmions forms - in stark contrast to the well-studied bulk state. The surface state is stable over a wide temperature range, unlike the bulk state in out-of-plane fields which is confined in a narrow region of the temperature-field phase diagram. In contrast to ordinary skyrmions found in the bulk, the surface state skyrmions result from the presence of magnetic interactions unique to the surface which stabilize them against external perturbations. The surface-guiding makes the robust state particular interesting for racetrack-like devices, ultimately allowing for much higher storage densities due to the smaller lateral footprint of the perpendicular skyrmions.

Abstract:

We report on the electronic structure of α -Sn films in the very low thickness regime grown on InSb(111)A. High-resolution low photon energy angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy allows for the direct observation of the linearly dispersing two-dimensional (2D) topological surface state (TSS) that exists between the second valence band and the conduction band. The Dirac point of this TSS was found to be 200 meV below the Fermi level in 10-nm-thick films, which enables the observation of the hybridization gap opening at the Dirac point of the TSS for thinner films. The crossover to a quasi-2D electronic structure is accompanied by a full gap opening at the Brillouin-zone center, in agreement with our density functional theory calculations. We further identify the thickness regime of α -Sn films where the hybridization gap in the TSS coexists with the topologically nontrivial electronic structure and one can expect the presence of a one-dimensional helical edge state.