The quantum nature of skyrmions and half-skyrmions in Cu2OSeO3

Oleg Janson (), Ioannis Rousochatzakis (), Alexander A. Tsirlin, Marilena Belesi, Andrei A. Leonov, Ulrich K. Rößler, Jeroen van den Brink () and Helge Rosner
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Oleg Janson: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
Ioannis Rousochatzakis: Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, IFW
Alexander A. Tsirlin: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
Marilena Belesi: Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, IFW
Andrei A. Leonov: Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, IFW
Ulrich K. Rößler: Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, IFW
Jeroen van den Brink: Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, IFW
Helge Rosner: Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The Skyrme-particle, the skyrmion, was introduced over half a century ago in the context of dense nuclear matter. But with skyrmions being mathematical objects—special types of topological solitons—they can emerge in much broader contexts. Recently skyrmions were observed in helimagnets, forming nanoscale spin-textures. Extending over length scales much larger than the interatomic spacing, they behave as large, classical objects, yet deep inside they are of quantum nature. Penetrating into their microscopic roots requires a multi-scale approach, spanning the full quantum to classical domain. Here, we achieve this for the first time in the skyrmionic Mott insulator Cu2OSeO3. We show that its magnetic building blocks are strongly fluctuating Cu4 tetrahedra, spawning a continuum theory that culminates in 51 nm large skyrmions, in striking agreement with experiment. One of the further predictions that ensues is the temperature-dependent decay of skyrmions into half-skyrmions.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6376

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