Coexistence of charge and ferromagnetic order in fcc Fe

Phase coexistence phenomena have been intensively studied in strongly correlated materials where several ordered states simultaneously occur or compete. Material properties critically depend on external parameters and boundary conditions, where tiny changes result in qualitatively different ground states. However, up to date, phase coexistence phenomena have exclusively been reported for complex compounds composed of multiple elements. Here we show that charge- and magnetically ordered states coexist in double-layer Fe on Rh(001). Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy measurements reveal periodic charge order stripes below a temperature of 130 K. Close to liquid helium temperature, they are superimposed by ferromagnetic domains as observed by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Temperature-dependent measurements reveal a pronounced cross-talk between charge and spin order at the ferromagnetic ordering temperature about 70 K, which is successfully modeled within an effective Landau theory including sixth-order terms. Our results show that subtle balance between structural modifications can lead to competing ordering phenomena

Indirect chiral magnetic exchange through Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya-enhanced RKKY interactions in manganese oxide chains on Ir(100)

Localized electron spins can couple magnetically via the Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interaction even if their wave functions lack direct overlap. Theory predicts that spin–orbit scattering leads to a Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya type enhancement of this indirect exchange interaction, giving rise to chiral exchange terms. Here we present a combined spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, angle-resolved photoemission, and density functional theory study of MnO_2 chains on Ir(100). Whereas we find antiferromagnetic Mn–Mn coupling along the chain, the inter-chain coupling across the non-magnetic Ir substrate turns out to be chiral with a 120° rotation between adjacent MnO_2 chains. Calculations reveal that the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction results in spin spirals with a periodicity in agreement with experiment. Our findings confirm the existence of indirect chiral magnetic exchange, potentially giving rise to exotic phenomena, such as chiral spin-liquid states in spin ice systems or the emergence of new quasiparticles

Indirect chiral magnetic exchange through Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya-enhanced RKKY interactions in manganese oxide chains on Ir(100)

Localized electron spins can couple magnetically via the Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interaction even if their wave functions lack direct overlap. Theory predicts that spin–orbit scattering leads to a Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya type enhancement of this indirect exchange interaction, giving rise to chiral exchange terms. Here we present a combined spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, angle-resolved photoemission, and density functional theory study of MnO_2 chains on Ir(100). Whereas we find antiferromagnetic Mn–Mn coupling along the chain, the inter-chain coupling across the non-magnetic Ir substrate turns out to be chiral with a 120° rotation between adjacent MnO_2 chains. Calculations reveal that the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction results in spin spirals with a periodicity in agreement with experiment. Our findings confirm the existence of indirect chiral magnetic exchange, potentially giving rise to exotic phenomena, such as chiral spin-liquid states in spin ice systems or the emergence of new quasiparticles

Electronic correlations in twisted bilayer graphene near the magic angle

Twisted bilayer graphene with a twist angle of around 1.1° features a pair of isolated flat electronic bands and forms a platform for investigating strongly correlated electrons. Here, we use scanning tunnelling microscopy to probe the local properties of highly tunable twisted bilayer graphene devices and show that the flat bands deform when aligned with the Fermi level. When the bands are half-filled, we observe the development of gaps originating from correlated insulating states. Near charge neutrality, we find a previously unidentified correlated regime featuring an enhanced splitting of the flat bands. We describe this within a microscopic model that predicts a strong tendency towards nematic ordering. Our results provide insights into symmetry-breaking correlation effects and highlight the importance of electronic interactions for all filling fractions in twisted bilayer graphene

Imaging Electronic Correlations in Twisted Bilayer Graphene near the Magic Angle

Twisted bilayer graphene with a twist angle of around 1.1{\deg} features a pair of isolated flat electronic bands and forms a strongly correlated electronic platform. Here, we use scanning tunneling microscopy to probe local properties of highly tunable twisted bilayer graphene devices and show that the flat bands strongly deform when aligned with the Fermi level. At half filling of the bands, we observe the development of gaps originating from correlated insulating states. Near charge neutrality, we find a previously unidentified correlated regime featuring a substantially enhanced flat band splitting that we describe within a microscopic model predicting a strong tendency towards nematic ordering. Our results provide insights into symmetry breaking correlation effects and highlight the importance of electronic interactions for all filling factors in twisted bilayer graphene.Comment: Main text 9 pages, 4 figures; Supplementary Information 25 page

Structural and electronic properties of metallic surfaces under the influence of correlation effects

Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht mit Rastertunnelmikroskopie (RTM) und -spektroskopie (RTS) die Korrelation von strukturellen, elektronischen und magnetischen Eigenschaften auf metallischen Oberflächen. Zuerst wird der spin-aufgespaltene Oberflächenzustand des Ni(111) analysiert. Anschließend geht der Fokus über auf dünne Eisenfilme, die auf Rh(001) gewachsen wurden. Zuletzt wird die CePt$_5$/Pt(111)-Oberflächenlegierung untersucht. Nickel ist ein bekannter Ferromagnet und die (111)-Oberfläche war in der Vergangenheit schon mehrfach das Objekt theoretischer und experimenteller Studien. Trotz intensiver Bemühungen wurden inkonsistente Ergebnisse veröffentlicht und ein klares, konsistentes Bild ist noch nicht vorhanden. Aus diesem Grund wird die Ni(111)-Oberfläche mittels RTM und RTS erforscht, die den Zugang sowohl zu besetzten als auch unbesetzten Zuständen ermöglicht. Mit der Methode der Quasiteilcheninterferenz wird eine detailierte Beschreibung der Banddispersion erhalten. Die Austauschaufspaltung zwischen Minoritäts- und Majoritätsoberflächenzustands wird zu ∆E$_{ex}$ = (100 ± 8) meV ermittelt. Der Ansatzpunkt des Majoritätsbandes liegt bei E − E$_F$ = −(160 ± 8)meV und die effektive Masse beträgt m^* = +(0,14 ± 0,04)me. Des Weiteren liegt der Ansatzpunkt der Oberflächenresonanz der Majoritätladungsträger energetisch bei E−E$_F$ = −(235±5)meV mit einer effektiven Masse von m^* = +(0,36±0,05)m$_e$. Um unmissverständlich den dominierenden Spin-Kanal in der RTS zu identifizieren, wurden hexagonale Quantentröge durch reaktives Ionenätzen hergestellt und mit der Hilfe eines eindimensionalen Quantentrogmodells interpretiert. Die sechs Kanten eines Hexagons erscheinen unterschiedlich. Atomar aufgelöste Messungen zeigen, dass gegenüberliegende Kanten nicht nur eine unterschiedliche Struktur haben sondern auch unterschiedliche spektroskopische Eigenschaften, die durch einen alternierend auftauchenden oder abwesenden spektroskopischen Peak charakterisiert sind. Magnetische Messungen ergeben allerdings keine endgültigen Ergebnisse bezüglich des Ursprungs des Beobachtungen. Das zweite experimentelle Kapitel dreht sich um dünne Eisenfilme, die auf eine saubere Rh(001)-Oberfläche aufgebracht und diese dann mit RTM, RTS und spin-polarisierter (SP- )RTM untersucht werden. Eine nahezu defektfreie Rh(001)-Oberfläche ist notwendig, um ein Wachstum der Eisenfilme mit wenigen Defekten zu erhalten. Dies ist relevant, um das magnetische Signal korrekt interpretieren zu können und den möglichen Einfluss von Adsorbaten auszuschließen. Die erste atomare Lage Fe ordnet sich antiferromagnetisch in einer c(2 × 2)-Struktur an mit der leichten Magnetisierungsachse senkrecht zur Probenoberfläche. Die zweite und dritte Lage verhält sich ferromagnetisch mit immer kleiner werdenden Domänen für steigende Bedeckung. Ab 3,5 atomaren Lagen kommt es vermutlich zu einer Änderung der leichten Magnetisierungsrichtung von vertikal zu horizontal zur Probenebene. Dies wird durch kleiner werdende Domänengrößen und den gleichzeitig breiter werdenden Domänenwänden signalisiert. Temperaturabhängige spin-polarisierter RTM erlaubt es die Curietemperatur der zweiten Lage auf 80 K zu schätzen. Zusätzlich wurde bei dieser Bedeckung eine periodische Modulation der lokalen Zustandsdichte gemessen, die mit steigender Periodizität auch auf der dritten und vierten Lage erscheint. Temperatur- und spannungsabhängige Messungen unterstützen eine Interpretation der Daten auf der Grundlage einer Ladungsdichtewelle. Ich zeige, dass die beiden für gewöhnlich konkurrierende Ordnungen (Ladungs- und magnetische Ordnung) koexistieren und sich gegenseitig beeinflussen, was theoretische Rechnungen, die in Zusammenarbeit mit F. P. Toldin und F. Assaad durchgeführt wurden, bestätigen können. Im letzten Kapitel wurde die Oberflächenlegierung CePt$_5$/Pt(111) analysiert. Diese System bildet laut einer kürzlich erschienenen Veröffentlichung ein schweres Fermionengitter. Von der sauberen Pt(111)-Oberfläche ausgehend wurde die Oberflächenlegierung CePt$_5$/Pt(111) hergestellt. Die Dicke der Legierung (t in u.c.) lässt sich durch die aufgedampfte Menge an Cer variieren und die erzeugte Oberfläche wurde mit RTM und RTS für verschiedene Dicken unter- sucht. RTM-Bilder und LEED (engl.: low energy electron diffraction)-Daten zeigen konsistente Ergebnisse, die in Zusammenarbeit mit C. Praetorius analysiert wurden. Für Bedeckungen unter einer atomaren Lage Cer konnte keine geordnete Struktur mit dem RTM beobachtet werden. Für 2 u.c. wurde eine (2 × 2)-Rekonstruktion an der Oberfläche gemessen und für 3 u.c. CePt$_5$ wurde eine (3√3×3√3)R30◦-Rekonstruktion beobachtet. Der Übergang von 3 u.c. CePt5 zu 5 u.c. CePt$_5$ wurde untersucht. Mit Hilfe eines Strukturmodells schließe ich, dass es weder zu einer Rotation des atomaren Gitters noch zu einer Rotation des Übergitters kommt. Ab einer Bedeckung von 6 u.c. CePt5 erscheint eine weitere Komponente der CePt$_5$-Oberflächenlegierung, die keine Rekonstruktion mehr besitzt. Das atomare Gitter verläuft wieder entlang der kris- tallographischen Richtungen des Pt(111)-Kristalls und ist somit nicht mehr um 30^° gedreht. Für alle Bedeckungen wurden Spektroskopiekurven aufgenommen, die keinen Hinweis auf ein kohärentes schweres Fermionensystem geben. Eine Erklärung hierfür kommt aus einer LEED-IV Studie, die besagt, dass jede gemessene Oberfläche mit einer Pt(111)-Schicht terminiert ist. Das RTM ist sensitiv für die oberste Schicht und somit wäre der Effekt eines kohärenten schweren Fermionensystems nicht unbedingt messbar.The present work investigates the correlation of structural, electronic, and magnetic properties at metal surfaces by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS). First I analyze the spin-split surface state of Ni(111). Subsequently the focus goes on iron thin films grown on Rh(001). Finally the heavy-fermion candidate CePt5/Pt(111) is investigated. Nickel is a well-known ferromagnet and its (111) surface has been the subject of several theoretical and experimental studies in the past. Despite intensive efforts, inconsistent results have been reported and a clear consistent picture is still missing. For this reason, the Ni(111) surface has been probed by STM and STS, which give access to both occupied and unoccupied states. By quasi-particle interference mapping a detailed description of the band dispersion is obtained. The exchange splitting between minority and majority spin states amounts to ∆E$_{ex}$ = (100 ± 8) meV. The onset of the majority band is located at E − E$_F$ = −(160 ± 8)meV and its effective mass is m^* = +(0,14 ± 0,04)me. Furthermore, the onset of the majority spin surface resonance is energetically located at E−E$_F$ = −(235±5)meV and with an effective mass equal to m^* = +(0,36±0,05)m$_e$. To unequivocally identify which spin channels dominate the STS signal, hexagonal quantum wells have been created by sputtering, and interpreted using a one-dimensional quantum well model. The six edges of the hexagon result to be unequal. Atomically resolved measurements show that adjacent edges have not only a different structure, but also different spectroscopic signatures characterized by an alternating sequence of presence and absence of an additional spectroscopic peak. Spin-dependent (SP-STM) measurements did not give any definite conclusion on the origin of this observation. The second experimental section deals with thin iron films deposited on a clean Rh(001) surface and examined by STM, STS and SP-STM. A nearly defect-free Rh(001) is necessary to obtain a growth of iron films with few defects. This is required to correctly interpret the magnetic signal excluding the possible influence of contaminants. The first atomic layer of Fe orders antiferromagnetically in a c(2 × 2)-structure with the easy magnetization axis perpendicular to the surface plane. The second and third layer behaves ferromagnetically with domains sizes which get progressively smaller by increasing the coverage. Above 3.5 atomic layers, a reorientation of the easy magnetization direction from out-of-plane to in-plane takes place. This is signaled by the size of magnetic domains which become smaller while at the same time domain walls become larger. Temperature-dependent SP-STM measurements allow to estimate a Curie temperature of approximatelly 80K for the second layer. At this coverage an additional periodic modulation of the local density of states is detected and persists, although with a shorter wavelength, in the third and fourth layer. Temperature and voltage-dependent measurements support an interpretation of these data based on the existence of a charge density wave. I show that these two usually competing orders (charge and magnetic order) coexist and influence each other, as also confirmed by theoretical calculations performed in collaboration with F. P. Toldin and F. Assaad. In the final chapter the CePt5/Pt(111) intermetallic surface compound has been analyzed. This system has been recently reported to give rise to a heavy Fermion lattice. Starting from the clean Pt(111) surface, the intermetallic surface compound CePt5/Pt(111) is prepared. The thickness of the alloy (t in u.c.) can be varied by the evaporated amount of cerium and the surface produced is examined with STM and STS for various thicknesses. STM images and LEED patterns analyzed in collaboration with C. Praetorius provide consistent results. For coverages below one atomic layer cerium no ordered structure with the STM was observed. For 2 u.c. a (2 × 2) surface structure and for 3 u.c. CePt5 a (3√3×3√3)R30◦-structure was observed. The transition from 3 u.c. CePt5 to 5 u.c. CePt5 was investigated. Supported by structural modelling I conclude that neither a rotation of the atomic lattice nor a rotation of the superstructure was observed. Starting at a coverage of 6 u.c. CePt5 the CePt5 intermetallic surface compound evolves into a different structure. The high symmetry direction is aligned with the underlying Pt(111) crystal and no longer rotated by 30. For all coverages spectroscopic data are acquired, which give no indication of a coherent heavy Fermion system. One explanation is based on a LEED-IV study, which says that any measured surface is terminated with a Pt(111)-layer. The STM is sensitive to the uppermost layer, and thus the effect of a coherent heavy Fermion system would not necessarily measurable

Electronic correlations in twisted bilayer graphene near the magic angle

Twisted bilayer graphene with a twist angle of around 1.1° features a pair of isolated flat electronic bands and forms a platform for investigating strongly correlated electrons. Here, we use scanning tunnelling microscopy to probe the local properties of highly tunable twisted bilayer graphene devices and show that the flat bands deform when aligned with the Fermi level. When the bands are half-filled, we observe the development of gaps originating from correlated insulating states. Near charge neutrality, we find a previously unidentified correlated regime featuring an enhanced splitting of the flat bands. We describe this within a microscopic model that predicts a strong tendency towards nematic ordering. Our results provide insights into symmetry-breaking correlation effects and highlight the importance of electronic interactions for all filling fractions in twisted bilayer graphene

Indirect chiral magnetic exchange through Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya-enhanced RKKY interactions in manganese oxide chains on Ir(100)

Localized electron spins can couple magnetically via the Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interaction even if their wave functions lack direct overlap. Theory predicts that spin–orbit scattering leads to a Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya type enhancement of this indirect exchange interaction, giving rise to chiral exchange terms. Here we present a combined spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, angle-resolved photoemission, and density functional theory study of MnO2 chains on Ir(100). Whereas we find antiferromagnetic Mn–Mn coupling along the chain, the inter-chain coupling across the non-magnetic Ir substrate turns out to be chiral with a 120° rotation between adjacent MnO2 chains. Calculations reveal that the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction results in spin spirals with a periodicity in agreement with experiment. Our findings confirm the existence of indirect chiral magnetic exchange, potentially giving rise to exotic phenomena, such as chiral spin-liquid states in spin ice systems or the emergence of new quasiparticles

Magnetic Ground State Stabilized by Three-Site Interactions: Fe / Rh ( 111 )

We report the direct observation of a theoretically predicted magnetic ground state in a monolayer Fe on Rh(111), which is referred to as an up-up-down-down (↑↑↓↓) double-row-wise antiferromagnetic spin structure, using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. This exotic phase, which exists in three orientational domains, is revealed by experiments with magnetic probe tips performed in external magnetic fields. It is shown that a hitherto unconsidered four-spin–three-site beyond-Heisenberg interaction distinctly contributes to the spin coupling of atoms with S≥1 spins. The observation of the ↑↑↓↓ order substantiates the presence of higher-order, in particular, three-site interactions, in thin magnetic films of itinerant magnets