Stability under magnetic field of the two helices arrangement in a Eu(110) film

Abstract Single crystal Eu(1 1 0) films exhibit an atypical magnetic arrangement, different from the bulk three helices configuration: at low temperature, under zero field, only two magnetic domains are present since the magnetic helix that propagates along the in-plane [0 0 1] axis disappears below a given temperature. This paper presents the study of the stability of the magnetic domains under magnetic field using neutron scattering experiments and magnetisation measurements on a 375 nm thick Eu(1 1 0) film. The helix propagating along [0 0 1] is restored by the application of an external field along the [0 0 1] direction, which gives rise to a supplemental Zeeman contribution.