Presence of X-Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism Signal for Zero-Magnetization Antiferromagnetic State

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) is generally not observed for antiferromagnetic (AFM) states because XMCD signals from the antiparallelly coupled spins cancel each other. In this Letter, we theoretically show the presence of an XMCD signal from compensated two-dimensional triangle AFM structures on a Kagome lattice. The calculation reveals the complete correspondence between the XMCD spectra and the sign of the spin chirality: the XMCD signal only appears when the spin chirality is negative. This XMCD signal originates from the different absorption coefficients of the three sublattices reflecting different charge density anisotropies and directions of spin and orbital magnetic moments.

Automated summary

In this study, XMCD signal was observed from compensated two-dimensional triangle AFM structures on a Kagome lattice, based on the different absorption coefficients of the three sublattices and the sign of the spin chirality. This XMCD signal is only present when the spin chirality is negative, reflecting the unique charge density anisotropies and directions of spin and orbital magnetic moments in the system.