Discovery of Itinerant Magnetic Domain Wall and Quasiparticle Boundary State in Spin-Density-Waves

TL;DR

This study uncovers unique boundary structures in spin-density-wave states of chromium, revealing decay of spins at domain boundaries, formation of double-Q SDW states, and the first observation of SDW quasiparticle states akin to Andreev bound states.

Contribution

It introduces the first observation of SDW quasiparticle states at boundaries and describes a new type of domain wall in itinerant SDW systems, distinct from local moment magnets.

Findings

Finite-scale decay of spins at SDW domain boundaries

Observation of SDW quasiparticle states resembling Andreev bound states

Formation of double-Q SDW state at domain boundaries

Abstract

Conventional magnetic domain walls are characterized by reorientation of local spins. However, what occurs at the boundary of itinerant magnets is largely unknown. Here using spin-sensitive scanning tunneling microscopy, we investigated the microscopic domain wall structure of the spin-density-wave (SDW) state in a prototypical itinerant antiferromagnet - chromium (Cr). At the boundary of two incommensurate SDW domains, we found the spins undergo finite-scale decay rather than reorientation. This generates a double-Q SDW state, which is further evidenced by an accompanying second-order charge modulation. In the commensurate SDW domains, a clear SDW energy gap is observed. Interestingly, the screw dislocations induced half vortex and anti-vortex of SDW, paired by antiphase domain wall. The spin density vanished at such antiphase domain walls. Remarkably, for the first time we observed the SDW quasiparticle states at the boundary, resembling the Andreev bound states in superconductors. These unique SDW boundary structures can be viewed as consequences of local interference of two SDWs, either with different Q or reversed phases. Our findings thus reveal a new type of domain wall distinct to that of local moment magnetism, with a mechanism rooted in the itinerant nature of SDW.