Emergence of skyrmion lattices and bimerons in chiral magnetic thin films with nonmagnetic impurities

Silva, R. L., Secchin, L. D., Moura-Melo, W. A., Pereira, A. R. and Stamps, R. L. (2014) Emergence of skyrmion lattices and bimerons in chiral magnetic thin films with nonmagnetic impurities. Physical Review B, 89(5), 054434. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.89.054434)

Abstract

Skyrmions are topologically protected field structures with particlelike characteristics that play important roles in several areas of science. Recently, skyrmions have been directly observed in chiral magnets. Here, we investigate the effects of pointlike nonmagnetic impurities on the distinct initial states (random or helical ones) and on the formation of the skyrmion crystal in a discrete lattice. Using Monte Carlo techniques, we have found that even a small percentage of spin vacancies present in the chiral magnetic thin film considerably affects the skyrmion order. The main effects of impurities are somewhat similar to thermal effects. The presence of these spin vacancies also induces the formation of bimerons in both the helical and skyrmion states. We also investigate how adjacent impurities forming a hole affect the skyrmion crystal.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Stamps, Professor Robert
• Authors: Silva, R. L., Secchin, L. D., Moura-Melo, W. A., Pereira, A. R., 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: 1098-0121
• ISSN (Online): 1550-235X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 American Physical Society
• First Published: First published in Physical Review B 89(5):054434
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.