Skyrmion Lattice in a Chiral Magnet

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1166767
• Publication Date: 2009-02-13T01:30:59Z
• Authors: S. Mühlbauer; B. Binz; F. Jonietz; C. Pfleiderer; A. Rosch; A. Neubauer; R. Georgii; P. Böni
• Keywords: Skyrmion; Lattice (music); Point reflection

Skyrmions represent topologically stable field configurations with particle-like properties. We used neutron scattering to observe the spontaneous formation of a two-dimensional lattice skyrmion lines, type magnetic vortex, in chiral itinerant-electron magnet MnSi. The stabilizes at border between paramagnetism and long-range helimagnetic order perpendicular small applied regardless direction relative atomic lattice. Our study experimentally establishes materials lacking inversion symmetry as an arena for new forms crystalline composed spin states.