Fermi Surface Nesting Driving the RKKY Interaction in the Centrosymmetric Skyrmion Magnet Gd_{2}PdSi_{3}

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Magnetism

Background:

• Magnetic skyrmions, particle-like magnetic whirls, are crucial for next-generation electronic devices.
• Their formation in centrosymmetric crystals, like Gd2PdSi3, presents unique research opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the electronic structure of Gd2PdSi3 and its relationship with magnetic properties.
• To elucidate the mechanism behind the formation of magnetic skyrmions in this material.

Main Methods:

• Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to probe electronic structure.
• Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, incorporating crystal superstructure.
• Comparison with scattering measurements to validate findings.

Main Results:

• ARPES revealed detailed Fermi surface and band dispersions consistent with DFT calculations.
• A three-dimensional Fermi surface exhibiting extended nesting was observed.
• The nesting vector aligned with the magnetic order's q vector.

Conclusions:

• The observed electronic structure and magnetic order in Gd2PdSi3 are strongly correlated.
• The findings support the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction as the mechanism for skyrmion formation.
• This study provides critical insights into skyrmion physics in centrosymmetric materials.