Theoretically predicted picosecond optical switching of spin chirality in multiferroics

We show theoretically with an accurate spin Hamiltonian describing the multiferroic Mn perovskites that the application of the picosecond optical pulse with a terahertz frequency can switch the spin chirality through intensely exciting the electromagnons. There are four states with different spin chiralities, i.e. clockwise and counterclockwise ab/bc-plane spin spirals, and by tuning the strength, shape and length of the pulse, the switching among these states can be controlled at will. Dynamical pattern formation during the switching is also discussed.Comment: 4+ pages, 5 figure

Current-Driven Motion of Magnetic Domain Wall with Many Bloch Lines

The current-driven motion of a domain wall (DW) in a ferromagnet with many Bloch lines (BLs) via the spin transfer torque is studied theoretically. It is found that the motion of BLs changes the current-velocity ($j$-$v$) characteristic dramatically. Especially, the critical current density to overcome the pinning force is reduced by the factor of the Gilbert damping coefficient $\alpha$ even compared with that of a skyrmion. This is in sharp contrast to the case of magnetic field driven motion, where the existence of BLs reduces the mobility of the DW

Topological states on the breathing kagome lattice

We theoretically study the topological properties of the tight-binding model on the breathing kagome lattice with antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling (SOC) between nearest neighbors. We show that the system hosts nontrivial topological phases even without second-nearest-neighbor hopping, and that the weakly dispersing band of the kagome lattice can become topological. The main results are presented in the form of phase diagrams, where the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological index is shown as a function of SOC (intrinsically allowed and Rashba) and lattice trimerization. In addition, exact diagonalization is compared with effective low-energy theories around the high-symmetry points. We find that the weakly dispersing band has a very robust topological property associated with it. Moreover, the Rashba SOC can produce a topological phase rather than hinder it, in contrast to the honeycomb lattice. Finally, we consider the case of a fully spin polarized (ferromagnetic) system, breaking time-reversal symmetry. We find a phase diagram that includes systems with finite Chern numbers. In this case too, the weakly dispersing band is topologically robust to trimerization.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures; published versio