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Journal article

Three-dimensional neutron far-field tomography of a bulk skyrmion lattice

Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions are localized non-collinear spin textures, characterized by an integer topological charge. Commonly observed in thin systems as two-dimensional sheets, in three dimensions skyrmions form tubes that are thought to nucleate and annihilate along their depth on points of vanishing magnetization. However, a lack of techniques that can probe the bulk of the material has made it difficult to perform experimental visualizations of skyrmion lattices and their stabilization through defects. Here we present three-dimensional visualizations of a bulk Co8Zn8Mn4 skyrmion lattice through a tomographic algorithm applied to multiprojection small-angle neutron scattering measurements. Reconstructions of the sample show a disordered skyrmion lattice exhibiting three-dimensional topological transitions through emergent (anti)monopole branching and segmentation defect pathways. Our technique provides insights into skyrmion stabilization and topological transition pathways in a bulk skyrmion lattice, guiding the future development and manipulation of skyrmion materials for spintronic applications.

Authors

Henderson ME; Heacock B; Bleuel M; Cory DG; Heikes C; Huber MG; Krzywon J; Nahman-Levesqué O; Luke GM; Pula M

Journal

Nature Physics, Vol. 19, No. 11, pp. 1617–1623

Publisher

Springer Nature

Publication Date

November 1, 2023

DOI

10.1038/s41567-023-02175-4

ISSN

1745-2473

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