Spontaneous Transition to a Correlated Phase of Skyrmions Observed in Real Space

We conduct photoluminescence microscopy that is sensitive to both electron and nuclear spin polarization to investigate the changes that occur in the magnetic ordering in the vicinity of the first integer quantum Hall state in a GaAs 2D electron system (2DES). We observe a discontinuity in the elect...

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Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Moore, John N, Iwata, Hikaru, Hayakawa, Junichiro, Mano, Takaaki, Noda, Takeshi, Shibata, Naokazu, Yusa, Go
Format Paper Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 01.06.2018
Subjects
Chemical potential
Domains
Electron spin
Electrons
Energy gap
Hypothetical particles
Nuclear spin
Organic chemistry
Particle theory
Phase transitions
Photoluminescence
Physics - Strongly Correlated Electrons
Polarization (spin alignment)
Relaxation time
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Summary:We conduct photoluminescence microscopy that is sensitive to both electron and nuclear spin polarization to investigate the changes that occur in the magnetic ordering in the vicinity of the first integer quantum Hall state in a GaAs 2D electron system (2DES). We observe a discontinuity in the electron spin polarization and nuclear spin longitudinal relaxation time which heralds a spontaneous transition to a phase of magnetic skyrmions. We image in real space the spin phase domains that coexist at this transition, and observe hysteresis in their formation as a function of the 2DES's chemical potential. Based on measurements in a tilted magnetic field orientation, we found that the transition is protected by an energy gap containing the Zeeman energy, and conclude that the skyrmions here have formed as an ensemble.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1806.00174