Gao, C. L., Ernst, A., Winkelmann, A., Henk, J., Wulfhekel, W., Bruno, P., Kirschner, J.
Noncollinear surface spin density by surface reconstruction in the alloy NiMn
Physical Review Letters 100, (23),pp 237203/1-4 (2008)
At the (001) surface of the alloy Ni50Mn50, a noncollinear spin density is observed in real space by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. The spin density of individual atoms also varies in both size and direction as a function of bias voltage, indicating a noncollinearity in the energy domain. The noncollinearity is driven by a surface reconstruction which breaks the otherwise high surface symmetry. First-principles electronic-structure calculations support the experimental observations and evidence the interplay of reconstruction and spin-orbit coupling.
TH-2008-12