Towards skyrmion crystal stabilization in the antiferromagnetic triangular lattice at ambient conditions

• Published in: Physics letters. A 2023-12, Vol.490, p.129170, Article 129170
• Main Authors: Mohylna, Mariia, Tkachenko, Vitalii, Žukovič, Milan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Geometrical frustration; Heisenberg antiferromagnet; Heterostructure; Multilayer; Skyrmion lattice; Zero-field skyrmions
• ISSN: 0375-9601; 1873-2429
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physleta.2023.129170

We explore possibilities of stabilizing a skyrmion lattice (SkX) phase in the frustrated antiferromagnetic (AF) Heisenberg model with the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction on a triangular lattice at ambient conditions. We show that by stacking multiple AF layers and coupling them with strong ferromagnetic (F) interaction the SkX phase stability temperature window can be extended by several times. The transition temperature increase is supported by the increasing number of layers and interlayer interaction and thus room-temperature SkX phase could be achievable by proper tailoring of the multilayer structure. Further, we demonstrate that in the sandwich heterostructure, obtained by inserting a stiff F layer in between two AF layers, the required external magnetic field can be completely replaced by the effective field imposed by the F layer. Thus, one can design a heterostructure with the SkX phase stabilized at relatively high temperatures and zero field - the environment favorable for technological applications. •We explore some ways of stabilizing skyrmion (SkX) phase close to ambient conditions.•We consider two layered structures of SkX-hosting triangular Heisenberg AF with DMI.•Stacking of AF layers can considerably increase transition temperature to SkX phase.•Inserting a hard ferromagnet (F) between AF layers can substitute the external field.•AF/F-based heterostructures can stabilize the SkX phase at ambient conditions.