Chirality waves in two-dimensional magnets

TL;DR

This paper predicts a new noncoplanar magnetic state in 2D magnets caused by electron-magnetic moment interactions, which generates electrical and spin currents without needing spin-orbit coupling, expanding understanding of magnetic phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a novel noncoplanar magnetic state in two-dimensional systems driven by electron interactions, independent of spin-orbit effects, with potential realizations in various materials.

Findings

Noncoplanar magnetic state can form without spin-orbit interaction.

The state produces ground-state electrical and spin currents.

Stability depends on lattice effects and magnetic exchange strength.

Abstract

We theoretically show that moderate interaction between electrons confined to move in a plane and localized magnetic moments leads to formation of a noncoplanar magnetic state. The state is similar to the skyrmion crystal recently observed in cubic systems with the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction; however, it does not require spin-orbit interaction. The non-coplanar magnetism is accompanied by the ground-state electrical and spin currents, generated via the real-space Berry phase mechanism. We examine the stability of the state with respect to lattice discreteness effects and the magnitude of magnetic exchange interaction. The state can be realized in a number of transition metal and magnetic semiconductor systems.