Small-angle neutron scattering in fully polarized phase of non-collinear magnets with interfacial-like DMI

TL;DR

This paper explores how small-angle neutron scattering can be used to analyze the magnetic properties of non-collinear magnets with interfacial DMI in their fully polarized phase, revealing key parameters through field-dependent measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a method to determine magnetic interaction parameters in non-collinear magnets using SWSANS in the fully polarized phase, applicable to thin films with interfacial DMI.

Findings

Magnon spectrum becomes gapped and non-reciprocal due to DMI.

Field dependence of SWSANS cutoff features reveals model parameters.

Method applicable to thin films with interfacial DMI.

Abstract

Spin waves in non-collinear magnets with $C_{nv}$ symmetry are discussed in the context of inelastic neutron scattering in small-angle scattering geometry. In the framework of a minimal model including exchange coupling, Dzayloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), and single-ion anisotropy, we consider the system properties at moderate external magnetic fields and in the high-field fully polarized phase. In the latter case, the magnon spectrum is gapped and non-reciprocal due to DMI with the minimum perpendicular to the field direction for the in-plane field and is ferromagnetic-like for the field along the high-symmetry axis. Inelastic small-angle neutron scattering in the fully polarized phase (SWSANS) is considered in four different geometries. It is shown that analysis of the field dependence of the SWSANS cutoff feature in these geometries allows determining all important parameters of the model. The possibility of the proposed method utilization in thin films with interfacial DMI is also discussed.