Possible existence of chiral spin textures in the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ/Fe_1−xTb_x heterostructure

Toward low-energy-consumption spintronic devices, magnetic multilayers that host chiral spin textures, as well as efficient spin-torques, are highly promising. As compared with resistive materials, superconducting materials are optimal for constructing dissipationless electronic devices, in which the electricity is conducted without producing Joule heating. In this regard, magnetic multilayers containing superconductors are well suited for building ultra-low power spintronic devices. Following this motivation, we study the possible existence of chiral spin textures in the two-dimensional (2D) high temperature superconductor/ferrimagnet heterostructures of stacking order Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ/Fe_1−xTb_x and stacking order Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ/Co_1−xTb_x. Through x-ray photon-emission electron microscopy, we observe bubble-like spin textures in a wide temperature range. Based on the first-principles calculations, the important role of spin-orbit interaction from the BiO termination layer is discussed, which induces a very large interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and results in the possible existence of chiral spin textures on top of superconductors. Our work suggests that the layered high-temperature superconductor could be incorporated for stabilizing chiral spin textures and for building dissipationless spin-orbitronic devices.