RKKY interaction in the zigzag-edge silicene-like nanoflake

Abstract

By considering the Kane-Mele-Hubbard approximation on the honeycomb lattice, we investigate the spin-spin correlation for two magnetic impurities in zigzag edge silicene-like nanoflake (ZSiLF). The dependence of the spatial behaviors of RKKY interaction on the electron-electron (e-e), intrinsic spin-orbit interactions (ISOI) and, electric field are systematically investigated. Generally, the spatial behaviors of the RKKY interaction sensitively change by changing e-e interaction and electric field strengths in the presence of ISOI. The ISOI in a ZSiLF result in long-range in-plane and Ising interactions. Moreover, e-e interaction induces non-zero Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya (DM) term and nearly distance-independent Ising interaction (similar to graphene nanoflake) in the presence of ISOI. Furthermore, with considering e-e interaction, the in-plane DM interaction increases by increasing the strengths of the electric field and ISOI.