Melting of hexagonal skyrmion states in chiral magnets

Ambrose, M.C. and Stamps, R.L. (2013) Melting of hexagonal skyrmion states in chiral magnets. New Journal of Physics, 15(5), 053003. (doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/15/5/053003)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/5/053003

Abstract

Skyrmions are spiral structures observed in thin films of certain magnetic materials (Uchida et al 2006 Science 311 359–61). Of the phases allowed by the crystalline symmetries of these materials (Yi et al 2009 Phys. Rev. B 80 054416), only the hexagonally packed phases (SCh) have been observed. Here the melting of the SCh phase is investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. In addition to the usual measure of skyrmion density, chiral charge, a morphological measure is considered. In doing so it is shown that the low-temperature reduction in chiral charge is associated with a change in skyrmion profiles rather than skyrmion destruction. At higher temperatures, the loss of six-fold symmetry is associated with the appearance of elongated skyrmions that disrupt the hexagonal packing.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ambrose, Mr Matthew and Stamps, Professor Robert
Authors: Ambrose, M.C., and Stamps, R.L.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:New Journal of Physics
ISSN:1367-2630
Copyright Holders:2013 IOP publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
First Published:First published in New Journal of Physics 15(5):053003
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under Creative Commons licence

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