"Surface Spin-Orbital Chirality: Uncovering Unique Signatures"

Researchers have discovered a new form of unconventional magnetism, known as chiral electronic ordering, which arises from charge currents at the atomic scale and is associated with a hidden magnetic order. By studying the archetypal quantum material Sr2RuO4, they have revealed signatures of a broken symmetry phase compatible with the formation of spin-orbital quadrupole currents at the material's surface. This discovery was made possible through circularly polarized, spin-selective, angular-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, providing a methodology to probe otherwise undetectable symmetry-broken chiral electronic states. The study sheds light on the relationship between spin-orbital textures of electronic states and the occurrence of chiral electronic ordering, offering insights into a new phase of matter with potential implications for condensed-matter physics.