Skyrmion Lattice in a Chiral Magnet

Abstract

Skyrmions represent topologically stable field configurations with particle-like properties. We used neutron scattering to observe the spontaneous formation of a two-dimensional lattice of skyrmion lines, a type of magnetic vortex, in the chiral itinerant-electron magnet MnSi. The skyrmion lattice stabilizes at the border between paramagnetism and long-range helimagnetic order perpendicular to a small applied magnetic field regardless of the direction of the magnetic field relative to the atomic lattice. Our study experimentally establishes magnetic materials lacking inversion symmetry as an arena for new forms of crystalline order composed of topologically stable spin states.

Cite this paper

Related papers

1. Efficient iterative schemes for ab initio total-energy calculations using a plane-wave basis set1996
2. Accurate and simple analytic representation of the electron-gas correlation energy1992
3. Accurate spin-dependent electron liquid correlation energies for local spin density calculations: a critical analysis1980
4. Theory of Superconductivity1957
5. First-principles simulation: ideas, illustrations and the CASTEP code2002