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Author: Leonov, A.O. × Publisher: Milton Park : Taylor & Francis ×

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    The properties of isolated chiral skyrmions in thin magnetic films
    (Milton Park : Taylor & Francis, 2016) Leonov, A.O.; Monchesky, T.L.; Romming, N.; Kubetzka, A.; Bogdanov, A.N.; Wiesendanger, R.
    Axisymmetric solitonic states (chiral skyrmions) were first predicted theoretically more than two decades ago. However, until recently they have been observed in a form of skyrmionic condensates (hexagonal lattices and other mesophases). In this paper we report experimental and theoretical investigations of isolated chiral skyrmions discovered in PdFe/Ir(111) bilayers two years ago by Romming et al (2013 Science 341 636). The results of spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy analyzed within the continuum and discrete models provide a consistent description of isolated skyrmions in thin layers. The existence region of chiral skyrmions is restricted by strip-out instabilities at low fields and a collapse at high fields. We demonstrate that the same equations describe axisymmetric localized states in all condensed matter systems with broken mirror symmetry, and thus our findings establish basic properties of isolated skyrmions common for chiral liquid crystals, different classes of noncentrosymmetric magnets, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics.
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    Internal structure of hexagonal skyrmion lattices in cubic helimagnets
    (Milton Park : Taylor & Francis, 2016) McGrouther, D.; Lamb, R.J.; Krajnak, M.; McFadzean, S.; McVitie, S.; Stamps, R.L.; Leonov, A.O.; Bogdanov, A.N.; Togawa, Y.
    We report the most precise observations to date concerning the spin structure of magnetic skyrmions in a nanowedge specimen of cubic B20 structured FeGe. Enabled by our development of advanced differential phase contrast (DPC) imaging (in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM)) we have obtained high spatial resolution quantitative measurements of skyrmion internal spin profile. For hexagonal skyrmion lattice cells, stabilised by an out-plane applied magnetic field, mapping of the in-plane component of magnetic induction has revealed precise spin profiles and that the internal structure possesses intrinsic six-fold symmetry. With increasing field strength, the diameter of skyrmion cores was measured to decrease and accompanied by a nonlinear variation of the lattice periodicity. Variations in structure for individual skyrmions across an area of the lattice were also studied utilising a new increased sensitivity DPC detection scheme and a variety of symmetry lowering distortions were observed. To provide insight into fundamental energetics we have constructed a phenomenological model, with which our experimental observations of spin profiles and field induced core diameter variation are in good agreement with predicted structure in the middle of the nanowedge crystal. In the vicinity of the crystal surfaces, our model predicts the existence of in-plane twisting distortions which our current experimental observations were not sensitive to. As an alternative to the requirement for as yet unidentified sources of magnetic anisotropy, we demonstrate that surface states could provide the energetic stabilisation needed for predomination over the conical magnetic phase.