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Dynamical Defects in Rotating Magnetic Skyrmion Lattices

S. Pöllath, J. Wild, L. Heinen, T. N. G. Meier, M. Kronseder, L. Tutsch, A. Bauer, H. Berger, C. Pfleiderer, J. Zweck, A. Rosch, and C. H. Back
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 207205 – Published 19 May 2017
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Abstract

The chiral magnet Cu2OSeO3 hosts a Skyrmion lattice that may be equivalently described as a superposition of plane waves or a lattice of particlelike topological objects. A thermal gradient may break up the Skyrmion lattice and induce rotating domains, raising the question of which of these scenarios better describes the violent dynamics at the domain boundaries. Here, we show that in an inhomogeneous temperature gradient caused by illumination in a Lorentz transmission electron microscope different parts of the Skyrmion lattice can be set into motion with different angular velocities. Tracking the time dependence, we show that the constant rearrangement of domain walls is governed by dynamic 5–7 defects arranging into lines. An analysis of the associated defect density is described by Frank’s equation and agrees well with classical 2D Monte Carlo simulations. Fluctuations of boundaries show a surgelike rearrangement of Skyrmion clusters driven by defect rearrangement consistent with simulations treating Skyrmions as point particles. Our findings underline the particle character of the Skyrmion.

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  • Received 16 January 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.207205

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

S. Pöllath1, J. Wild1, L. Heinen2, T. N. G. Meier1, M. Kronseder1, L. Tutsch1, A. Bauer3, H. Berger4, C. Pfleiderer3, J. Zweck1, A. Rosch2, and C. H. Back1

  • 1Institut für Experimentelle Physik, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
  • 2Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität zu Köln, D-50937 Köln, Germany
  • 3Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
  • 4Crystal Growth Facility, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

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Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 20 — 19 May 2017

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