Effective spin model in momentum space: Toward a systematic understanding of multiple-$Q$ instability by momentum-resolved anisotropic exchange interactions

TL;DR

This paper develops a systematic, momentum-space effective spin model with anisotropic exchange interactions to understand multiple-$Q$ magnetic states, revealing their origins and predicting various complex magnetic configurations.

Contribution

It introduces a set of symmetry rules for anisotropic exchange interactions in momentum space and applies them to model multiple-$Q$ states in different crystal systems.

Findings

Identified symmetry rules extending Moriya's rule for anisotropic exchanges.

Constructed effective spin models for tetragonal, hexagonal, and trigonal magnets.

Predicted multiple-$Q$ states with spin scalar chirality in an itinerant magnet.

Abstract

Multiple-$Q$ magnetic states, such as a skyrmion crystal, become a source of unusual transport phenomena and dynamics. Recent theoretical and experimental studies clarify that such multiple-$Q$ states ubiquitously appear under different crystal structures in metals and insulators. Toward a systematic understanding of the formation of the multiple-$Q$ states in various crystal systems, in this theoretical study, we present a low-energy effective spin model with anisotropic exchange interactions in momentum space. We summarize specific six symmetry rules for nonzero symmetric and antisymmetric anisotropic exchange interactions in momentum space, which are regarded as an extension of Moriya's rule. According to the rules, we construct the effective spin model for tetragonal, hexagonal, and trigonal magnets with crystal- and momentum-dependent anisotropic exchange interactions based on magnetic representation analysis. Furthermore, we describe the origin of the effective anisotropic exchange interactions in itinerant magnets by perturbatively analyzing a multi-band periodic Anderson model with the spin-orbit coupling. We apply the effective spin model to an itinerant magnet in a $P6/mmm$ crystal and find various multiple-$Q$ states with a spin scalar chirality in the ground state. Our results provide a foundation of constructing effective phenomenological spin models for any crystal systems hosting the multiple-$Q$ states, which will stimulate further exploration of exotic multiple-$Q$ states in materials with the spin-orbit coupling.