Journal Article

PUBDB-2026-00458

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Preservation of scalar spin chirality across a metallic spacer in synthetic antiferromagnets with chiral interlayer interactions

Cascales Sandoval, M. A. (Corresponding author) ; Hierro-Rodríguez, A. ; Ruiz-Gómez, S. ; Skoric, L. ; Niño, M. A. ; McVitie, S. ; Flewett, S.Extern*DESY* ; Foerster, M. ; Vedmedenko, E. Y. ; Jaouen, N. ; Fernández-Pacheco, A.

2025
Inst. Woodbury, NY

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1103/9798-rdmj  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2026-00458

Abstract: Chiral magnetic textures are key for the development of modern spintronic devices. In multilayered thin films, these are typically stabilized via the interfacial intralayer Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). Additionally, it has been recently observed that DMI may also promote vector spin chirality along the third dimension, coupling spins in different magnetic layers via nonmagnetic spacer layers, an effect referred to as interlayer DMI (IL-DMI). This interaction holds promise for 3D nanomagnetism, from the creation of 3D spin structures such as hopfions to new forms of magnetic functionality in the vertical direction via remote control of chiral spin states. In this work, we provide direct experimental evidence that the in-plane vector spin chirality of magnetic textures within a ferromagnetic layer can be controlled via the net out-of-plane spin configuration of an adjacent one. Both ferromagnetic layers form part of a synthetic antiferromagnet, previously shown to have IL-DMI. This in-plane vector chirality dependence on the out-of-plane configuration of another layer implies that the overall scalar spin chirality is preserved when computed across layers. We draw these conclusions from a combination of magnetic x-ray scattering and imaging experiments, complemented by various simulations. These findings thus uncover a type of chiral interlayer interactions, which can lead to the formation of intricate spin states across a metallic interface, demonstrating other ways to control magnetic chirality in three dimensions.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. FS-Experiment Control (FS-EC)

Research Program(s):

1. 623 - Data Management and Analysis (POF4-623) (POF4-623)
2. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)514141286 - Hybridisierung an Metall- und Oxid-Grenzflächen zum Verständnis der Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Wechselwirkung in asymmetrisch angeordneten Dünnfilmen binärer Legierungen (514141286) (514141286)

Experiment(s):

1. No specific instrument

Appears in the scientific report 2025

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Electronics and Telecommunications Collection ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---