Emergent Chiral Spin Crystal Phase in (111) SrRuO3 Thin Films

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of an intrinsic chiral spin crystal phase in (111) SrRuO3 thin films, characterized by topological Hall effect and noncoplanar spin textures, driven by dipolar interactions and magnetic frustration.

Contribution

It reveals an emergent topological spin state in perovskite ruthenates arising intrinsically from magnetic interactions, not extrinsic effects, expanding possibilities for spintronic applications.

Findings

Observation of a significant topological Hall effect.

Identification of noncoplanar spin arrangements with orthogonal propagation vectors.

Stabilization of topological phases in thicker films without extrinsic mechanisms.

Abstract

Perovskite ruthenates are fascinating playgrounds for exploring topological spin textures, but generally rely on extrinsic mechanisms to trigger the noncoplanar states. Here we report the discovery of an emergent chiral spin crystal phase in (111) SrRuO3 epitaxial films, characterized by a significant topological Hall effect and noncoplanar spin arrangements with different propagation vectors along two orthogonal directions. Instead of driven by the enhanced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction due to broken inversion symmetry at heterointerfaces, this emergent state arises intrinsically from the interplay of dipolar interactions and magnetic frustration, leading to the stabilization of topological phases in much thicker films. These findings open a new pathway for creating and controlling the topological spin states in perovskites, with broad implications for spintronic device design.