Visualizing Emergent Magnetic Flux of Antiskyrmions in Mn1.4PtSn Magnet

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2022-07, Vol.32 (27), p.n/a
• Main Authors: He, Zhidong, Song, Dongsheng, Wang, Weiwei, Wang, Ning, Ge, Binghui, Wang, Shouguo, Tian, Mingliang, Du, Haifeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antiskyrmion; antiskyrmion‐antiskyrmion interaction; Hypothetical particles; Magnetic flux; magnetic structures; Magnets; Materials science; off‐axis electron holography; Particle theory; Spintronics; Symmetry
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202112661

Topologically protected spin textures, such as magnetic skyrmions, have attracted considerable attention owing to their emergent electromagnetic phenomena and potential applications in spintronics. The antiskyrmion, a new member of the skyrmion family in the nanoscale dimension, consists of alternating Néel‐ and Bloch‐type boundary walls; it has already been discovered in non‐centrosymmetric magnets with D2d/S4 symmetry. However, its complex spin textures and unique magnetic‐charge‐induced emergent field have not been explicitly visualized thus far. Here, state‐of‐the‐art off‐axis electron holography is employed to directly resolve the antiskyrmions in a non‐centrosymmetric Heusler magnet Mn1.4PtSn with D2d symmetry. The magnetic flux distribution inside and outside the antiskyrmion is clearly imaged, indicating the emergent magnetic field induced by the broken cylindrical symmetry. More importantly, the closed emergent flux between adjacent antiskyrmions is revealed, indicating the antiskyrmion‐antiskyrmion interactions (a different mechanism compared to that of conventional skyrmions). These findings provide a clear and deep insight into the intrinsic magnetic flux configuration in the antiskyrmion‐hosted magnets, thus paving the way for the manipulation of antiskyrmions in the future. The magnetic flux distribution is visualized both inside and outside the antiskyrmion by using the state‐of‐the‐art off‐axis electron holography, clarifying the intrinsic emergent field produced in antiskyrmion‐hosted magnets. More importantly, a closed emergent magnetic flux between adjacent antiskyrmions is revealed, indicating antiskyrmion–antiskyrmion interactions. The quadrupole magnetic moment is responsible for these observations, indicating a different mechanism compared to that of conventional skyrmions.