White Dresden Tutorial 19mar2017 Final 2
White Dresden Tutorial 19mar2017 Final 2
White Dresden Tutorial 19mar2017 Final 2
:: Jonathan White
:: Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging (LNS)
:: Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Switzerland
Page 2
What is a Skyrmion?
µ 0H
In real magnets
Example: Spins with fixed length on a circle (1-sphere). Homotopy group: π1(S1) =
e.g. magnetic vortex
Order parameter is a 2D magnetization vector: m
Order parameter space = circle (one angle) = S1
N=0 N = -1
N = +1 N = +2
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Classifying a magnetic skyrmion
Magnetic Skyrmions belong the homotopy group: π2(S2) =
Spins with fixed length on a 2-dimensional plane
Order parameter is a 3D magnetization vector: m
Order parameter space = surface of a sphere (two angles) =S2
Real Space Depiction of mapping to order parameter space
• Closed particle-like state (closed surface in order parameter space with physical stability)
• Topologically non-trivial (Skyrmions are countable objects)
• Topological protection (a continuous change of homotopy is forbidden introduces an
energy barrier between different topological states in a real physical system)
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II. Where are they found?
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Theory for ‘vortices’ in magnets
A. Bogdanov and A. Hubert, JMMM 138, 255 (1994). “spin vortices” as solutions of a
A.N. Bogdanov and D.A. Yablonsky, Sov. Phys. JETP 95, 178 (1989).
A.N. Bogdanov, U.K. Rößler and C. Pfleiderer, Physica B 359, 1162 (2006).
continuum model condensed
U.K. Rößler, A.A. Leonov and A.N. Bogdanov, J. Phys: Conf. Series (2010) hcp skyrmion phases
Néel-type skyrmion
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Theory for ‘vortices’ in magnets
A. Bogdanov and A. Hubert, JMMM 138, 255 (1994). “spin vortices” as solutions of a
A.N. Bogdanov and D.A. Yablonsky, Sov. Phys. JETP 95, 178 (1989).
A.N. Bogdanov, U.K. Rößler and C. Pfleiderer, Physica B 359, 1162 (2006).
continuum model condensed
U.K. Rößler, A.A. Leonov and A.N. Bogdanov, J. Phys: Conf. Series (2010) hcp skyrmion phases
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Chiral magnet MnSi
Simple Hamiltonian with a monochiral helix groundstate
0.46 nm
µ0 H
Reciprocal space
Lorentz force TEM – thin samples Magnetic tip AFM (MFM) – surfaces
Fe0.5Co0.5Si and FeGe Fe0.5Co0.5Si GaV4S8
Z.X. Yu et al., Nature 465, 901 (2010), Nat. Mater. 10, 106 (2011) P. Milde et al., Science 340, 1076 (2013)
I. Kézsmárki et al., Nat. Mater. 14, 116 (2015)
• Spin-polarised STM • Resonant soft x-ray scattering
• Ultrasonic measurements • PEEM
• Microwave spectroscopy • Classical measurements, M(H), χac
• Muon spin rotation • Transport (Hall effect) Page 12
Table of DMI Skyrmion host materials
Material Crys. SG Skyrm. Tc λ (nm) Trans. References
Class Type
MnSi T P213 Bloch 30 K 18 Metal S. Mühlbauer et al., Science 323, 915
(2009)
FeGe T P213 Bloch 279 K 70 Metal X.Z. Yu et al., Nat. Mater. 10, 106 (2010)
Fe1-xCoxSi T P213 Bloch < 36 K 40-230 Semi- W. Münzer et al., PRB 81, 041203(R)
(2010)
cond.
X.Z. Yu et al., Nature 465, 901 (2010)
Mn1-xFexSi T P213 Bloch < 17 K 10-12 Metal S.V. Grigoriev et al., PRB 79, 144417 (2009)
Mn1-xFexGe T P213 Bloch < 220 K 5–220 Metal K. Shibata et al., Nat. Nanotech. 8, 723–
728 (2013)
Cu2OSeO3 T P213 Bloch 58 K 60 Insulator S. Seki et al., Science 336, 198 (2012)
T. Adams et al., PRL 108, 237204 (2012)
CoxZnyMnz O P4132 Bloch 150 K – 120 – Metal Y. Tokunaga et al., Nat. Commun. 6, 7638
(2015)
/P4332 500 K 200
(Fe,Co)2Mo3N O P4132 Bloch < 36 K 110 Metal W. Li et al., Phys. Rev. B 93, 060409(R)
(2016)
/P4332
GaV4S8 C3v R3m Néel 13 K 17 Semicond/ I. Kézsmárki et al., Nat. Mater. 14, 1116
Insulator (2015)
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Nature is generous!
Non-centrosymmetric crystal classes
More Skyrmion host systems with novel functionalities are waiting to be discovered!
P. S. Halasyamani and K. R. Poeppelmeier, Chem. Mater. 10, 2753 (1998) Page 14
III. Getting out of a tight spot
Understanding Skyrmion phase stability
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Important factors beyond DMI
MnSi Cu2OSeO3 Co-Zn-Mn alloys
S. Mühlbauer et al., Science (2009) S. Seki et al., Science (2012) Y. Tokunaga et al., Nat. Commun. (2015)
Uniaxial anisotropy
(with no conical phase)
GaV4S8
A. Tonomura et al., Nano Lett., 12, 1673 (2012) X.Z. Yu et al., Nat. Mater. 10, 106 (2010)
four-spin interaction
300 nm
diameter T = 300 K
[Ir(1 nm)/Co(0.6 nm)/Pt(1 nm)]10 disks µ0H⊥ = 8 - 50 mT
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Spin textures and emergent fields
In general… Development of an electron Non-coplanar spin structure
state vector in a distorted
parameter space
si sj sk
‘Emergent flux’ B is
A. Rosch topologically quantised!
T. Schulz et al., Nat. Phys. 8, 301 (2012)
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Experimental detection by Hall effect
Normal Hall effect Anomalous Hall effect Topological Hall effect MnSi
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Detecting and driving skyrmion motion
Skyrmion motion is detectable by the THE MnSi
N. Nagaosa and Y. Tokura, Nat. Nanotech. 8, 899 (2013) T. Schulz et al., Nat. Phys. 8, 301 (2012)
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Spin transfer torques and SANS
Further indications of Skyrmion motion in MnSi F. Jonietz et al., Science 330, 1648 (2010)
+j -j
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But certainly not limited to ..
Artificial Skyrmions Diverse topological spin textures
Mn1.4Pt0.9Pd0.1Sn - LTEM
A. K. Nayak et al., arXiv: 1703.01017
D2d symmetry
• Ultrathin metallic films and multilayers host Néel-type skyrmions at room temperature
that can be controlled by electric currents.
• Most promising for Skyrmionics!