No Arabic abstract
The 212 species of structural phase transitions which break macroscopic symmetry are analyzed with respect to the occurrence of time-reversal invariant vector and bidirector order parameters. The possibility of discerning the orientational domain states of the low-symmetry phase by these `vectorlike physical properties has been derived using a computer algorithm exploiting the concept of polar, axial, chiral and neutral dipoles. It is argued that for species 32 > 3, 422 > 4 and 622 > 6, Bogdanov-Yablonskii phenomenological theory for a ferromagnetic Bloch Skyrmions applies also to the ferroelectric Bloch Skyrmions. In these fully-ferroelectric and nonferroelastic species, the Ginzburg Landau functional allows a pseudo-Lifshitz invariant of chiral bidirector symmetry, analogous to the chiral Dzyaloshinskii-Moria term assumed in magnetic Bloch Skyrmion theory.
Diffusion of particles has wide repercussions ranging from particle-based soft matter systems to solid state systems with particular electronic properties. Recently, in the field of magnetism, diffusion of magnetic skyrmions, topologically stabilized quasi-particles, has been demonstrated. Here we show that by applying a magnetic in-plane field and therefore breaking the symmetry of the system, the skyrmion diffusion becomes anisotropic with faster diffusion parallel to the field axis and slower diffusion perpendicular to it. We furthermore show that the absolute value of the applied field controls the absolute values of the diffusion coefficients so that one can thereby uniquely tune both the orientation of the diffusion and its strength. Based on the stochastic Thiele equation, we can explain the observed anisotropic diffusion as a result of the elliptical deformation of the skyrmions by the application of the in-plane field.
Time-reversal (T) symmetry breaking is a fundamental physics concept underpinning a broad science and technology area, including topological magnets, axion physics, dissipationless Hall currents, or spintronic memories. A best known conventional model of macroscopic T-symmetry breaking is a ferromagnetic order of itinerant Bloch electrons with an isotropic spin interaction in momentum space. Anisotropic electron interactions, on the other hand, have been a domain of correlated quantum phases, such as the T-invariant nematics or unconventional superconductors. Here we report discovery of a broken-T phase of itinerant Bloch electrons with an unconventional anisotropic spin-momentum interaction, whose staggered nature leads to the formation of two ferromagnetic-like valleys in the momentum space with opposite spin splittings. We describe qualitatively the effect by deriving a non-relativistic single-particle Hamiltonian model. Next, we identify the unconventional staggered spin-momentum interaction by first-principles electronic structure calculations in a four-sublattice antiferromagnet Mn5Si3 with a collinear checkerboard magnetic order. We show that the staggered spin-momentum interaction is set by nonrelativistic spin-symmetries which were previously omitted in relativistic physics classifications of spin interactions and topological quasiparticles. Our measurements of a spontaneous Hall effect in epilayers of antiferromagnetic Mn5Si3 with vanishing magnetization are consistent with our theory predictions. Bloch electrons with the unconventional staggered spin interaction, compatible with abundant low atomic-number materials, strong spin-coherence, and collinear antiferromagnetic order open unparalleled possibilities for realizing T-symmetry broken spin and topological quantum phases.
Symmetry breaking is a characteristic to determine which branch of a bifurcation system follows upon crossing a critical point. Specifically, in spin-orbit torque (SOT) devices, a fundamental question arises: how to break the symmetry of the perpendicular magnetic moment by the in-plane spin polarization? Here, we show that the chiral symmetry breaking by the DMI can induce the deterministic SOT switching of the perpendicular magnetization. By introducing a gradient of saturation magnetization or magnetic anisotropy, non-collinear spin textures are formed by the gradient of effective SOT strength, and thus the chiral symmetry of the SOT-induced spin textures is broken by the DMI, resulting in the deterministic magnetization switching. We introduce a strategy to induce an out-of-plane (z) gradient of magnetic properties, as a practical solution for the wafer-scale manufacture of SOT devices.
In this work, the current-induced inertial effects on skyrmions hosted in ferromagnetic systems are studied. {When the dynamics is considered beyond the particle-like description, magnetic skyrmions can deform due to a self-induced field. We perform Monte Carlo simulations to characterize the deformation of the skyrmion during its movement}. In the low-velocity regime, the deformation in the skyrmion shape is quantified by an effective inertial mass, which is related to the dissipative force. When skyrmions move faster, the large self-induced deformation triggers topological transitions. The transition is characterized by the proliferation of skyrmions and different total topological charge, which are obtained in terms of the skyrmion velocity. Our findings provide an alternative way to describe the skyrmion dynamics that take into account the deformations of its structure. Furthermore, the motion-induced topological phase transition brings the possibility to control the number of ferromagnetic skyrmions by velocity effects.
Inversion symmetry breaking allows contrasted circular dichroism in different k-space regions, which takes the extreme form of optical selection rules for interband transitions at high symmetry points. In materials where band-edges occur at noncentral valleys, this enables valley dependent interplay of electrons with light of different circular polarizations, in analogy to spin dependent optical activities in semiconductors. This discovery is in perfect harmony with the previous finding of valley contrasted Bloch band features of orbital magnetic moment and Berry curvatures from inversion symmetry breaking [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 236809 (2007)]. A universal connection is revealed between the k-resolved optical oscillator strength of interband transitions, the orbital magnetic moment and the Berry curvatures, which also provides a principle for optical measurement of orbital magnetization and intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity in ferromagnetic systems. The general physics is demonstrated in graphene where inversion symmetry breaking leads to valley contrasted optical selection rule for interband transitions. We discuss graphene based valley optoelectronics applications where light polarization information can be interconverted with electronic information.