We propose a concept of non-collinear spin current, whose spin polarization varies in space even in non-magnetic crystals. While it is commonly assumed that the spin polarization of the spin Hall current is uniform, asymmetric local crystal potential generally allows the spin polarization to be non-collinear in space. Based on microscopic considerations we demonstrate that such non-collinear spin Hall currents can be observed for example in layered Kagome Mn3X (X = Ge, Sn) compounds. Moreover, by referring to atomistic spin dynamics simulations we show that non-collinear spin currents can be used to switch the chiral spin texture of Mn3X in a deterministic way even in the absence of an external magnetic field. Our theoretical prediction can be readily tested in experiments, which will open a novel route toward electric control of complex spin structures in non-collinear antiferromagnets.
@article{arxiv.2201.11476,
title = {Non-Collinear Spin Current for Switching of Chiral Magnetic Textures},
author = {Dongwook Go and Moritz Sallermann and Fabian R. Lux and Stefan Blügel and Olena Gomonay and Yuriy Mokrousov},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2201.11476},
year = {2022}
}