Insight into the electronic structure of the centrosymmetric skyrmion magnet GdRu2Si2

Abstract

The discovery of a square magnetic-skyrmion lattice in GdRu₂Si₂, with the smallest so far found skyrmion size and without a geometrically frustrated lattice, has attracted significant attention. In this work, we present a comprehensive study of surface and bulk electronic structures of GdRu₂Si₂ by utilizing momentum-resolved photoemission (ARPES) measurements and first-principles calculations. We show how the electronic structure evolves during the antiferromagnetic transition when a peculiar helical order of 4f magnetic moments within the Gd layers sets in. A nice agreement of the ARPES-derived electronic structure with the calculated one has allowed us to characterize the features of the Fermi surface (FS), unveil the nested region along k_z at the corner of the 3D FS, and reveal their orbital compositions. Our findings suggest that the Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interaction plays a decisive role in stabilizing the spiral-like order of Gd 4f moments responsible for the skyrmion physics in GdRu₂Si₂. Our results provide a deeper understanding of electronic and magnetic properties of this material, which is crucial for predicting and developing novel skyrmion-based systems.