title: Probing the spinor nature of electronic states in nanosize non-collinear magnets.
abstract: Non-collinear magnetization textures provide a route to novel device concepts in spintronics. These applications require laterally confined non-collinear magnets (NCM). A crucial aspect for potential applications is how the spatial proximity between the NCM and vacuum or another material impacts the magnetization texture on the nanoscale. We focus on a prototypical exchange-driven NCM given by the helical spin order of bilayer Fe on Cu(111). Spin-polarized scanning tunnelling spectroscopy and density functional theory reveal a nanosize- and proximity-driven modification of the electronic and magnetic structure of the NCM in interfacial contact with a ferromagnet or with vacuum. An intriguing non-collinearity between the local magnetization in the sample and the electronic magnetization probed above its surface results. It is a direct consequence of the spinor nature of electronic states in NCM. Our findings provide a possible route for advanced control of nanoscale spin textures by confinement.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, 06120 Halle, Germany.|Laboratório de Filmes Finos e Superfícies, Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900 Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeison A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, 06120 Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Leonid M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sandratskii
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, 06120 Halle, Germany.|Center for Nanometrology, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Daejeon 34113, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Hyon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Phark
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, 06120 Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Safia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouazi
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Filmes Finos e Superfícies, Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88040-900 Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: André A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Pasa
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, 06120 Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, 06120 Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Stuart S P
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Parkin