Schematic of spin-polarized STM measurements on the spin-orbital polarons [IMAGE: INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES]

The Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their collaborators reported the discovery of localized spin-orbit polaron in Weyl semimetal with intrinsic magnetism.

The kagome lattice Co₃Sn₂S₂ exhibits topological phenomena of a magnetic Weyl semimetal. By using the independently designed and assembled world’s top-level ultra-low temperature, strong-magnetic field scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spin-polarized STM systems, the research team discovered the localized spin-orbit polarons (SOPs) with three-fold rotation symmetry nucleated around a single S-vacancy at the S-terminated surface of Co₃Sn₂S₂.

Further research shows dominant orbital magnetization contribution to the local magnetic moment. The discovery of the localized spin-orbit polaron indicates that defect engineering could be realized in new quantum topological materials, which opens a novel route for manipulating the magnetic order and topological phenomena in Weyl semimetal, and paves the way toward practical applications in functional quantum devices.

Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences