Transition between distinct hybrid skyrmion textures through their hexagonal-to-square crystal transformation in a polar magnet

Deepak Singh (), Yukako Fujishiro, Satoru Hayami, Samuel H. Moody, Takuya Nomoto, Priya R. Baral, Victor Ukleev, Robert Cubitt, Nina-Juliane Steinke, Dariusz J. Gawryluk, Ekaterina Pomjakushina, Yoshichika Ōnuki, Ryotaro Arita, Yoshinori Tokura, Naoya Kanazawa and Jonathan S. White ()
Additional contact information
Deepak Singh: Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
Yukako Fujishiro: RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS)
Satoru Hayami: Hokkaido University
Samuel H. Moody: Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
Takuya Nomoto: University of Tokyo, Komaba
Priya R. Baral: Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
Victor Ukleev: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie
Robert Cubitt: Institut-Laue-Langevin
Nina-Juliane Steinke: Institut-Laue-Langevin
Dariusz J. Gawryluk: Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI)
Ekaterina Pomjakushina: Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI)
Yoshichika Ōnuki: RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS)
Ryotaro Arita: RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS)
Yoshinori Tokura: RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS)
Naoya Kanazawa: The University of Tokyo
Jonathan S. White: Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Magnetic skyrmions, topological vortex-like spin textures, garner significant interest due to their unique properties and potential applications in nanotechnology. While they typically form a hexagonal crystal with distinct internal magnetisation textures known as Bloch- or Néel-type, recent theories suggest the possibility for direct transitions between skyrmion crystals of different lattice structures and internal textures. To date however, experimental evidence for these potentially useful phenomena have remained scarce. Here, we discover the polar tetragonal magnet EuNiGe3 to host two hybrid skyrmion phases, each with distinct internal textures characterised by anisotropic combinations of Bloch- and Néel-type windings. Variation of the magnetic field drives a direct transition between the two phases, with the modification of the hybrid texture concomitant with a hexagonal-to-square skyrmion crystal transformation. We explain these observations with a theory that includes the key ingredients of momentum-resolved Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions that compete at the observed low symmetry magnetic skyrmion crystal wavevectors. Our findings underscore the potential of polar magnets with rich interaction schemes as promising for discovering new topological magnetic phases.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43814-x

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