Topologically stable magnetization states on a spherical shell: Curvature-stabilized skyrmions

Volodymyr P. Kravchuk, Ulrich K. Rößler, Oleksii M. Volkov, Denis D. Sheka, Jeroen van den Brink, Denys Makarov, Hagen Fuchs, Hans Fangohr, and Yuri Gaididei
Phys. Rev. B 94, 144402 – Published 3 October 2016

Abstract

Topologically stable structures include vortices in a wide variety of matter, skyrmions in ferro- and antiferromagnets, and hedgehog point defects in liquid crystals and ferromagnets. These are characterized by integer-valued topological quantum numbers. In this context, closed surfaces are a prominent subject of study as they form a link between fundamental mathematical theorems and real physical systems. Here we perform an analysis on the topology and stability of equilibrium magnetization states for a thin spherical shell with easy-axis anisotropy in normal directions. Skyrmion solutions are found for a range of parameters. These magnetic skyrmions on a spherical shell have two distinct differences compared to their planar counterpart: (i) they are topologically trivial and (ii) can be stabilized by curvature effects, even when Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions are absent. Due to its specific topological nature a skyrmion on a spherical shell can be simply induced by a uniform external magnetic field.

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  • Received 7 July 2016
  • Revised 2 September 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.144402

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Volodymyr P. Kravchuk1,2,*, Ulrich K. Rößler2, Oleksii M. Volkov1,3, Denis D. Sheka4, Jeroen van den Brink2,5, Denys Makarov3, Hagen Fuchs2, Hans Fangohr6, and Yuri Gaididei1

  • 1Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine
  • 2Leibniz-Institut für Festkörper- und Werkstoffforschung, IFW Dresden, D-01171 Dresden, Germany
  • 3Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, 01328 Dresden, Germany
  • 4Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
  • 5Institute for Theoretical Physics, TU Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
  • 6University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom

  • *vkravchuk@bitp.kiev.ua

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Issue

Vol. 94, Iss. 14 — 1 October 2016

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