Chiral spintronics of helimagnets

V.V. Ustinov^†, I.A. Yasyulevich^‡
Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, S Kovalevskoi str. 18, Ekaterinburg, 620108, Russian Federation

Chiral spintronics is a promising new branch of quantum electronics based on spin transport phenomena in materials with chiral symmetry. This review focuses on the development of chiral spintronics in helimagnets, materials characterized by a helical magnetic structure. The paper considers the general principles for describing electric and spin transport in conducting crystals in the presence of inhomogeneities in an external magnetic field and/or internal magnetic fields of exchange origin. It is demonstrated that the interaction of conduction electron spins with a spatially inhomogeneous exchange field in helimagnets provides a natural explanation for two experimentally observed spin-transport effects: the electrical magnetochiral effect and the kinetic magnetoelectric effect. An original technique for ascertaining the magnetic chirality of conductive helimagnets based on experimental studies of the aforementioned galvanomagnetic effects is presented. Constructing a theory of the spin-transfer torque effect in conductive chiral helimagnets is described, including an exploration of the influence of this effect on the magnetization and electrical resistance of helimagnets. The spin-transfer torque effect in helimagnets is demonstrated to cause rotation of the magnetization helix under the influence of an electric current. This can be used to create new devices of spin electronics in which conductive helimagnets will serve as the main functional components.

Correspondence should be addressed to
Keywords: chirality, helimagnet, spin current, spintronics, nonreciprocal transport, electrical magnetochiral effect, magnetochiral anisotropy, kinetic magnetoelectric effect, spin-transfer torque
PACS: 52.25.Dg, 72.15.−v, 72.15.Gd, 72.25.Ba, 72.25.Dc, 75.30.−m, 75.40.Gb, 75.76.+j, 85.75.−d, 85.75.Bb, 85.75.Dd (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2025.07.039974
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2025/10/c/
Web of Science

001644076700003
Scopus

2-s2.0-105025164779
ADS NASA

2025PhyU...68.1001U
Citation: Ustinov V V, Yasyulevich I A "Chiral spintronics of helimagnets" Phys. Usp. 68 1001–1028 (2025)

BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks

Received: 17th, January 2025, revised: 14th, July 2025, accepted: 30th, July 2025

Оригинал: Устинов В В, Ясюлевич И А «Хиральная спинтроника гелимагнетиков» УФН 195 1062–1093 (2025); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2025.07.039974

References (341) Cited by (3) Similar articles (20) ↓

S.A. Nikitov, A.R. Safin et al “Dielectric magnonics: from gigahertz to terahertz” Phys. Usp. 63 945–974 (2020)
A.B. Borisov “Localized structures in magnetic systems without the center of inversion” Phys. Usp. 63 269–288 (2020)
A.A. Pervishko, D.I. Yudin “Microscopic approach to the description of spin torques in two-dimensional Rashba ferromagnets and antiferromagnets” Phys. Usp. 65 215–226 (2022)
S.M. Stishov, A.E. Petrova “Itinerant helimagnet MnSi” Phys. Usp. 54 1117–1130 (2011)
V.M. Pudalov “Measurements of the magnetic properties of conduction electrons” Phys. Usp. 64 3–27 (2021)
N.V. Volkov “Spintronics: manganite-based magnetic tunnel structures” Phys. Usp. 55 250–269 (2012)
Yu.V. Gulyaev, P.E. Zilberman et al “Spintronics: exchange switching of ferromagnetic metallic junctions at a low current density” Phys. Usp. 52 335–343 (2009)
A.F. Barabanov, Yu.M. Kagan et al “The Hall effect and its analogs” Phys. Usp. 58 446–454 (2015)
A.G. Syromyatnikov, S.V. Kolesnikov et al “Formation and properties of metallic atomic chains and wires” Phys. Usp. 64 671–701 (2021)
S.M. Stishov, A.E. Petrova “Thermodynamic, elastic, and electronic properties of substances with a chiral crystal structure: MnSi, FeSi, and CoSi” Phys. Usp. 66 576–585 (2023)
S.G. Ovchinnikov, V.V. Rudenko “Anisotropic interactions in magnetic crystals with S-state ions. Nanostructures” Phys. Usp. 57 1180–1198 (2014)
A.P. Pyatakov, A.K. Zvezdin “Magnetoelectric and multiferroic media” Phys. Usp. 55 557–581 (2012)
Yu.N. Proshin, N.Kh. Useinov “Magnetic breakdown with spin flip” Phys. Usp. 38 39–86 (1995)
V.P. Mineev “Superconductivity in uranium ferromagnets” Phys. Usp. 60 121–148 (2017)
A.A. Bukharaev, A.K. Zvezdin et al “Straintronics: a new trend in micro- and nanoelectronics and material science” Phys. Usp. 61 1175–1212 (2018)
P.A. Alekseev, V.N. Lazukov, P.S. Savchenkov “Neutron magnetic form factor in studies of f-electron instability” Phys. Usp. 68 653–667 (2025)
N.G. Bebenin, R.I. Zainullina, V.V. Ustinov “Colossal magnetoresistance manganites” Phys. Usp. 61 719–738 (2018)
V.E. Bisti, A.B. Van’kov et al “Magnetoexcitons in two-dimensional electronic systems” Phys. Usp. 58 315–329 (2015)
Yu.A. Izyumov “Modulated, or long-periodic, magnetic structures of crystals” Sov. Phys. Usp. 27 845–867 (1984)
A.S. Mel’nikov, S.V. Mironov et al “Superconducting spintronics: state of the art and prospects” Phys. Usp. 65 1248–1289 (2022)

The list is formed automatically.