Discovery of Topological Magnetic Textures near Room Temperature in Quantum Magnet TbMn6Sn6

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2023-05, Vol.35 (20), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Li, Zhuolin, Yin, Qiangwei, Jiang, Yi, Zhu, ZhaoZhao, Gao, Yang, Wang, Shouguo, Shen, Jun, Zhao, Tongyun, Cai, Jianwang, Lei, Hechang, Lin, Shi‐Zeng, Zhang, Ying, Shen, Baogen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter physics; Electron transport; Hypothetical particles; Kagome lattice; Magnetic properties; Materials science; Particle theory; quantum magnet TbMn 6Sn 6; Quantum phenomena; Room temperature; Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) interaction; Stabilization; Texture; topological Hall conductivity; topological skyrmion; Topology; Transport properties
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211164

The study of topology in quantum materials has fundamentally advanced the understanding in condensed matter physics and potential applications in next‐generation quantum information technology. Recently, the discovery of a topological Chern phase in the spin–orbit‐coupled Kagome lattice TbMn6Sn6 has attracted considerable interest. Whereas these phenomena highlight the contribution of momentum space Berry curvature and Chern gap on the electronic transport properties, less is known about the intrinsic real space magnetic texture, which is crucial for understanding the electronic properties and further exploring the unique quantum behavior. Here, the stabilization of topological magnetic skyrmions in TbMn6Sn6 using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy near room temperature, where the spins experience full spin reorientation transition between the a‐ and c‐axes, is directly observed. An effective spin Hamiltonian based on the Ginzburg–Landau theory is constructed and micromagnetic simulation is performed to clarify the critical role of Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interaction on the stabilization of skyrmion lattice. These results not only uncover nontrivial spin topological texture in TbMn6Sn6, but also provide a solid basis to study its interplay with electronic topology. Topological magnetic skyrmions are directly observed in quantum magnet TbMn6Sn6 by Lorentz transmission electron microscopy with corresponding topological Hall conductivity measured near room temperature, where the full spin reorientation transition occurs between the a‐ and c‐axes. The mechanism of Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interaction on the stabilization of skyrmion lattice is clarified by micromagnetic simulation.