Skyrmion lattices in metallic and semiconducting B20 transition metal compounds

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter 2010-04, Vol.22 (16), p.164207-164207
• Main Authors: Pfleiderer, C, Adams, T, Bauer, A, Biberacher, W, Binz, B, Birkelbach, F, Böni, P, Franz, C, Georgii, R, Janoschek, M, Jonietz, F, Keller, T, Ritz, R, Mühlbauer, S, Münzer, W, Neubauer, A, Pedersen, B, Rosch, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Electron states; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic phase boundaries (including magnetic transitions, metamagnetism, etc.); Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Metal-insulator transitions and other electronic transitions; Physics; Theories and models of many electron systems
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/22/16/164207

High pressure studies in MnSi suggest the existence of a non-Fermi liquid state without quantum criticality. The observation of partial magnetic order in a small pocket of the pressure versus temperature phase diagram of MnSi has additionally inspired several proposals of complex spin textures in chiral magnets. We used neutron scattering to observe the formation of a two-dimensional lattice of skyrmion lines, a type of magnetic vortices, under applied magnetic fields in metallic and semiconducting B20 compounds. In strongly disordered systems the skyrmion lattice is hysteretic and extends over a large temperature range. Our study experimentally establishes magnetic materials lacking inversion symmetry as an arena for new forms of spin order composed of topologically stable spin textures.