Magnetic-domain-dependent Pseudogap Induced by Fermi Surface Nesting in a Centrosymmetric Skyrmion Magnet

Skyrmions in non-centrosymmetric materials are believed to occur due to the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. In contrast, the skyrmion formation mechanism in centrosymmetric materials remains elusive. Among those, Gd-based compounds are the prototype compounds; however, their electronic structure is not uncovered, even though it should be the foundation for elucidating the skyrmion mechanism. Here, we reveal the intrinsic electronic structure of GdRu2Si2 for the first time by magnetic domain selective measurements of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). In particular, we find the robust Fermi surface (FS) nesting, consistent with the q-vector detected by the previous resonant X-ray scattering (RXS) measurements. Most importantly, we find that the pseudogap is opened at the nested portions of FS at low temperatures. The momentum locations of the pseudogap vary for different magnetic domains, most likely having a direct relationship with the screw-type spin modulation that changes direction for each domain. Intriguingly, the anomalous pseudogap disconnects the FS to generate Fermi arcs with 2-fold symmetry. These results indicate the significance of Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction, in which itinerant electrons mediate to stabilize the local magnetic moment, as the mechanism for the magnetism in the Gd-based skyrmion magnets. Our data also predict that the momentum space where the pseudogap opens is doubled (or Fermi arcs shrink) and thereby stabilizes the skyrmion phase under a magnetic field. Furthermore, we demonstrate the flexible nature of magnetism in GdRu2Si2 by manipulating magnetic domains with a magnetic field and temperature cyclings, providing a possibility of future application for data storage and processing device with centrosymmetric skyrmion magnets.