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Coupled crystal and magnetic chiralities in NiCo2TeO6 determined by polarized x-ray and neutron scattering

N. Qureshi1,*, A. M. Vibhakar2, K. Beauvois3, J. A. Rodríguez-Velamazán1, A. Stunault1, R. Scatena2, F. Carneiro2, A. Bombardi2, C. J. Won4 et al.

K. Du5 and S.-W. Cheong4,5

  • *Contact author: qureshi@ill.fr
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Phys. Rev. B 113, 094409 – Published 6 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/mxdc-pl82

Abstract

We present a combined x-ray and polarized neutron scattering study on chiral, polar and magnetoeletric NiCo2TeO6 single crystals with different net crystal chiralities as characterized by optical methods. The rastering images taken with a micrometer-sized polarized x-ray beam unambiguously reveal the coupling of crystal and magnetic chiralities in a heterochiral sample. Spherical neutron polarimetry experiments on a different, structurally enantiopure sample—as evidenced by polarized x-ray scattering—reveal a homochiral magnetic spiral, which proves the stabilization of a single helical handedness despite the intertwined structural helices in the ferri-chiral crystal structure.

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References (21)

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Phys. Rev. B 113, 094409– Published 6 March, 2026
  • Received 2 December 2025
  • Revised 20 January 2026
  • Accepted 10 February 2026
Article part of CHORUS
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