Magnetic single-domain state of the monochiral helimagnet MnSi in the zero-field limit: Magnetic properties study

Attention is drawn to the possibility of obtaining the monochiral helimagnet MnSi in the magnetic single-domain state (SDS) in a zero magnetic field limit. It is shown that this metastable zero-field magnetic SDS can be achieved by a gradual decrease of the field down to zero after an initial transformation of MnSi to a spin-polarized state in a high field H. This can be achieved only for H parallel to [111]. Investigations of MnSi in the magnetic SDS give us the possibility of determining the two components of the low field magnetic susceptibility of this compound, chi(perpendicular to)(T) and chi(parallel to) (T) [chi(perpendicular to) and chi(parallel to) correspond to H perpendicular to (111) and H parallel to (111) planes containing magnetic moments in a helically ordered state]. These results are compared with the macroscopic magnetic susceptibility of MnSi that was determined earlier for this compound, but only in a magnetic multidomain state. In addition, our results are compared with the data reported for some nonmonochiral helimagnets. The characteristic features of monochiral helimagnets are elucidated.