Observation of Skyrmions in a Multiferroic Material

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1214143
• Publication Date: 2012-04-12T14:14:39Z
• Authors: S. Seki; X. Z. Yu; S. Ishiwata; Y. Tokura
• Keywords: Skyrmion; Magnetoelectric effect

A magnetic skyrmion is a topologically stable particle-like object that appears as vortex-like spin texture at the nanometer scale in chiral-lattice magnet. Skyrmions have been observed metallic materials, where they are controllable by electric currents. Here, we report experimental discovery of magnetoelectric skyrmions an insulating magnet Cu(2)OSeO(3) through Lorentz transmission electron microscopy and susceptibility measurements. We find can magnetically induce polarization. The coupling may potentially enable manipulation external field without losses due to joule heating.