Structural chirality of polar skyrmions probed by resonant elastic X-Ray scattering

0566391 - FZÚ 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
McCarter, M.R. - Kim, K.T. - Stoica, V.A. - Das, S. - Klewe, C. - Donoway, E.P. - Burn, D.M. - Shafer, P. - Rodolakis, F. - Pereira Gonçalves, Mauro Antonió - Gómez-Ortiz, F. - Íñiguez, J. - García-Fernández, P. - Junquera, J. - Lovesey, S.W. - van der Laan, G. - Park, S. - Y. - Freeland, J.W. - Martin, L.W. - Lee, D.R. - Ramesh, R.
Structural chirality of polar skyrmions probed by resonant elastic X-Ray scattering.
Physical Review Letters. Roč. 129, č. 24 (2022), č. článku 247601. ISSN 0031-9007. E-ISSN 1079-7114
R&D Projects: GA ČR GX19-28594X
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : ferroelectrics * multilayer thin films * nanostructures
OECD category: Condensed matter physics (including formerly solid state physics, supercond.)
Impact factor: 8.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.247601

An escalating challenge in condensed-matter research is the characterization of emergent order-parameter nanostructures such as ferroelectric and ferromagnetic skyrmions. Resonant elastic x-ray scattering (REXS) has emerged as a technique to study chirality in spin textures such as skyrmions and domain walls. Here, we present a framework for modeling REXS from an arbitrary arrangement of charge quadrupole moments. With this, we demonstrate how extended reciprocal space scans using REXS with circularly polarized x rays can probe the three-dimensional structure and chirality of polar skyrmions. Measurements, bolstered by quantitative scattering calculations, show that polar skyrmions of mixed chirality coexist, and that REXS allows valuation of relative fractions of right- and left-handed skyrmions. Our analysis highlights the capability of REXS for establishing complex topological structures toward future application exploits.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0337733