Information transfer by vector spin chirality in finite magnetic chains

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates atomic-scale spin-spirals in Fe chains on a surface, showing how vector spin chirality can be used to transmit information across nanoscale magnetic structures.

Contribution

It provides the first atomic-scale visualization of spin-spirals in finite chains and reveals how surface symmetry influences their chirality and information transfer.

Findings

Atomic-scale spin-spirals observed in Fe chains.

Surface symmetry breaks inversion symmetry, favoring a specific chirality.

Spin state changes can be detected tens of nanometers away.

Abstract

Vector spin chirality is one of the fundamental characteristics of complex magnets. For a one-dimensional spin-spiral state it can be interpreted as the handedness, or rotational sense of the spiral. Here, using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we demonstrate the occurrence of an atomic-scale spin-spiral in finite individual bi-atomic Fe chains on the (5x1)-Ir(001) surface. We show that the broken inversion symmetry at the surface promotes one direction of the vector spin chirality, leading to a unique rotational sense of the spiral in all chains. Correspondingly, changes in the spin direction of one chain end can be probed tens of nanometers away, suggesting a new way of transmitting information about the state of magnetic objects on the nanoscale.