Vortex order in magnetic frustrated GeNi$_2$O$_4$ and GeCo$_2$O$_4$ spinels

TL;DR

This paper investigates vortex spin textures in GeNi$_2$O$_4$ and GeCo$_2$O$_4$ spinels, revealing a short-period spin vortex crystal stabilized by magnetic anisotropy through neutron scattering and modeling.

Contribution

It demonstrates the stabilization of a 2-$k$ magnetic structure leading to a vortex crystal in frustrated spinel compounds, highlighting the role of magnetic anisotropy.

Findings

Identification of a 2-$k$ magnetic structure in GeNi$_2$O$_4$ and GeCo$_2$O$_4$.

Observation of a short period spin vortex crystal induced by magnetic anisotropy.

Explanation of multi-$k$ spin textures in frustrated antiferromagnets.

Abstract

In the search for new spin textures based on singular magnetic objects like Bloch-points or vortices, spinel compounds emerge as an interesting playground due to the interplay between magnetic anisotropy and complex interactions that extend well beyond first neighbors on a pyrochlore lattice. Based on an exploration of the exchange interaction phase diagrams of members of the Ge$B_2$O$_4$ family with $B$=Co and Ni, we show, using simultaneous modeling of inelastic neutron scattering measurements and single-crystal neutron diffraction data, that a 2-$k$ magnetic structure may be stabilized in these compounds. This leads to a short period spin vortex crystal, a variant induced by the magnetic anisotropy of the 3-$k$ Bloch-point structure predicted for isotropic spins. Our study rationalizes the formation of these multi-$k$ spin textures in frustrated antiferromagnets, as well as their anisotropy-dependent evolution.