{
  "abstract": "Topological orbital moments (TOMs) are a direct hallmark of a magnetic texture with a non-trivial spin topology. In addition to giving insight into the topology of the magnetic texture, TOMs could also be used to manipulate magnetic structures with a compensated total spin moment. Experimental evidence of TOMs has been provided via transport measurements of the Hall effect in intercalated van-der-Waals materials. However, a direct observation of TOMs is still missing. Another complication arises for the unambiguous proof of the topological origin since orbital moments can also occur due to spin-orbit coupling. Here, we use first-principles electronic structure theory to investigate the origin of orbital moments in different compensated spin structures with a non-trivial topology. We focus on ultrathin magnetic films at surfaces such as Pd/Mn bilayers on Re(0001) which represent ideal model systems for the detection of TOMs since it is possible to apply experimental techniques with local resolution of magnetic properties such as spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Due to its trivial topology we use the row-wise antiferromagnetic (RW-AFM) state in a hexagonal monolayer to analyze the spin-orbit induced contributions. The triple-Q (3Q) state is a superposition state of three RW-AFM (1Q) states and thus electronically similar, however, due to its non-trivial spin topology it exhibits TOMs. The comparison between these two spin states allows us to disentangle the topological and spin-orbit contributions to the orbital moments. We find that TOMs have an important contribution in spin-compensated systems, since the spin-orbit coupling induced orbital moments are nearly compensated. First-principles calculations for atomic-scale skyrmion lattices in Fe monolayers on different surfaces exhibit the same general trend found for the 3Q state.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2608.30642",
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Felix Nickel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Soumyajyoti Haldar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mara Gutzeit"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stefan Heinze"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/94ebsr6rjdtfc.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2608.30642",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "94ebsr6rjdtfc",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.30642",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.mtrl-sci"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3107|Magnetic properties of thin films"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204967737",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.30642",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-31",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/94ebsr6rjdtfc.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
      "native_id": "2608.30642",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.30642"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.mtrl-sci",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Topological and spin-orbit effects on orbital moments in ultra-thin magnetic films",
  "title_text": "Topological and spin-orbit effects on orbital moments in ultra-thin magnetic films",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/94ebsr6rjdtfc",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}