Persistent exchange splitting in a chiral helimagnet Cr1/3NbS2

Abstract

Using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and ab-initio calculation, we systematically investigate the electronic structure of the chiral helimagnet Cr1/3NbS2 and its temperature evolution. The comparison with NbS2 suggests that the electronic structure of Cr1/3NbS2 is strongly modified by the intercalation of Cr atoms. Our ab-initio calculation, consistent with experimental result, suggests strong hybridization between Nb- and Cr-derived states near the Fermi level. In the chiral helimagnetic state (below the Curie temperature Tc), we observe exchange splitting of the energy bands crossing EF, which follows the temperature evolution of the magnetic moment, suggesting an important role of the conduction electrons in the long-range magnetic ordering. Interestingly, the exchange splitting persists far above Tc with negligible temperature dependence, in drastic contrast to the itinerant ferromagnetism described by the Stoner model, indicating the existence of short-range magnetic order. Our results provide important insights into the microscopic mechanism of the chiral helimagnetic ordering in Cr1/3NbS2.