Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya spin density by skew scattering

Anisotropic exchange couplings, such as the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), have played a vital role in the formation and dynamics of spin textures. This work predicts an anisotropic conduction electron spin density in metals with heavy magnetic impurities. The polarization of this Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya spin density (DM-SD) is not collinear to the localized magnetic moments but rotated by the spin-dependent skew scattering of heavy atoms. The DM-SD induces the DMI between magnetic moments in metals and, therefore, it is the anisotropic extension of the Rutherman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida spin density. Our model consists of two localized magnetic moments, one with a large spin-orbit coupling (a lanthanide or rare earth), in a free electron gas. The lanthanide spin controls the DM-SD strength and polarization, promising a flexible control mechanism for anisotropic couplings.

Automated summary

This study predicts the existence of anisotropic conduction electron spin density in metals with heavy magnetic impurities, and suggests that this spin density is caused by spin-dependent skew scattering of heavy atoms. The spin density induces the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction between magnetic moments in metals, providing a flexible control mechanism for anisotropic couplings.