Experimental exploration of RKKY interaction as the primary cause of skyrmion generation in Eu<sub>1-x</sub>Gd<sub>x</sub>Al<sub>4</sub>
ORAL
Abstract
In recent years, there has been significant discourse regarding the interplay between the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI) and the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction among magnetic moments via conduction electrons in the formation of the reported low-temperature skyrmion phases in EuAl₄. Stoichiometric EuAl₄ exhibits a well-studied charge density wave (CDW), which leads to symmetry breaking and potentially facilitates DMI.
Our heat capacity and electron transport measurements reveal that this CDW is absent in Gd-doped EuAl₄; specifically, the sample Eu₀.₉₅Gd₀.₀₅Al₄ shows no evidence of a CDW transition. Through AC magnetic susceptibility and electronic Hall measurements, we confirm the existence of the same low-temperature skyrmion phase in the Gd-doped samples as observed in the stoichiometric material. Additionally, heat capacity measurements indicate that the low-temperature magnetic phases across all doped samples are consistent with those reported in stoichiometric EuAl₄.
Our investigation suggests that RKKY interactions are the primary source of skyrmion formation in Gd-doped EuAl₄.
Our heat capacity and electron transport measurements reveal that this CDW is absent in Gd-doped EuAl₄; specifically, the sample Eu₀.₉₅Gd₀.₀₅Al₄ shows no evidence of a CDW transition. Through AC magnetic susceptibility and electronic Hall measurements, we confirm the existence of the same low-temperature skyrmion phase in the Gd-doped samples as observed in the stoichiometric material. Additionally, heat capacity measurements indicate that the low-temperature magnetic phases across all doped samples are consistent with those reported in stoichiometric EuAl₄.
Our investigation suggests that RKKY interactions are the primary source of skyrmion formation in Gd-doped EuAl₄.
*The authors would like to thank the National Science Foundation for their financial support via the NSF Expand QISE grant (OMA MPS-2228841).
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Presenters
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Jefferson A Carter
- University of Wyoming