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Title: Scanning tunnelling spectroscopy as a probe of multi-Q magnetic states of itinerant magnets

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
 [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4]
  1. Univ. of Copenhagen (Denmark). The Niels Bohr Inst.; University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  2. Ruhr Univ., Bochum (Germany). Inst. for Theoretical Physics; Kazan Federal Univ. (Russian Federation). Inst. of Physics
  3. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States). School of Physics and Astronomy
  4. Univ. of Copenhagen (Denmark). The Niels Bohr Inst.

The combination of electronic correlations and Fermi surfaces with multiple nesting vectors can lead to the appearance of complex multi-Q magnetic ground states, hosting unusual states such as chiral density waves and quantum Hall insulators. Distinguishing single-Q and multi-Q magnetic phases is however a notoriously difficult experimental problem. Here we propose theoretically that the local density of states (LDOS) near a magnetic impurity, whose orientation may be controlled by an external magnetic field, can be used to map out the detailed magnetic configuration of an itinerant system and distinguish unambiguously between single-Q and multi-Q phases. We demonstrate this concept by computing and contrasting the LDOS near a magnetic impurity embedded in three different magnetic ground states relevant to iron-based superconductors—one single-Q and two double-Q phases. Our results open a promising avenue to investigate the complex magnetic configurations in itinerant systems via standard scanning tunnelling spectroscopy, without requiring spin-resolved capability.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012336
OSTI ID:
1347385
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Vol. 8; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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