From collinear to vortex magnetic structures in Mn corrals on Pt(111)

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic properties of small Mn ring-shaped clusters on Pt(111), revealing large magnetic moments, antiferromagnetic interactions, quantum confinement effects, and vortex-like non-collinear magnetic structures.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the magnetic configurations and quantum effects in Mn corrals on Pt(111) using density functional theory.

Findings

Mn atoms have large magnetic moments (~4μB)

Antiferromagnetic exchange interactions dominate

Vortex-like non-collinear magnetic structures form in certain geometries

Abstract

We study the magnetic properties of small Mn ring shaped clusters on a Pt(111) surface in the framework of density functional theory. We find that the Mn atoms possess large magnetic moments, of the order of 4uB/atom, and have dominating antiferromagnetic interatomic exchange interactions. A quantum confinement effect within the ring like clusters was found, indicating that even very small clusters can be seen as quantum corrals. The antiferromagnetic exchange couplings lead to collinear magnetic arrangements in simple corrals, as well as complex non-collinear ordering, as vortex-like structures, for the case of corrals with particular geometry where antiferromagnetism becomes frustrated.