Paths to annihilation of first- and second-order (anti)skyrmions via (anti)meron nucleation on the frustrated square lattice

Desplat, L., Kim, J.-V. and Stamps, R.L. (2019) Paths to annihilation of first- and second-order (anti)skyrmions via (anti)meron nucleation on the frustrated square lattice. Physical Review B, 99(17), 174409. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.99.174409)

Abstract

We study annihilation mechanisms of small first- and second-order skyrmions and antiskyrmions on the frustrated J1−J2−J3 square lattice with broken inversion symmetry (Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction). We find that annihilation happens via the injection of the opposite topological charge in the form of meron or antimeron nucleation. Overall, the exchange frustration generates a complex energy landscape with not only many (meta)stable and unstable local energy solutions but also many possible paths connecting them. Whenever possible, we compute the activation energy and attempt frequency for the annihilation of isolated topological defects. In particular, we compare the average lifetime of the antiskyrmion calculated with transition state theory with direct Langevin simulations, for which excellent agreement is obtained.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Commission, under Grant Agreement No. 665095 (MAGicSky), and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche under Contract No. ANR-17-CE24-0025 (TOPSKY).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Stamps, Professor Robert and Desplat, Louise
• Authors: Desplat, L., Kim, J.-V., and Stamps, R.L.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Physical Review B
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 2469-9950
• ISSN (Online): 2469-9969
• Published Online: 13 May 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 American Physical Society
• First Published: First published in Physical Review B 99(17):174409
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher