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Aqeel A, Sahliger J, Taniguchi T, Mändl S, Mettus D, Berger H, Bauer A, Garst M, Pfleiderer C, Back CH. Microwave Spectroscopy of the Low-Temperature Skyrmion State in Cu_{2}OSeO_{3}. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:017202. [PMID: 33480751 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.017202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In the cubic chiral magnet Cu_{2}OSeO_{3} a low-temperature skyrmion state (LTS) and a concomitant tilted conical state are observed for magnetic fields parallel to ⟨100⟩. Here, we report on the dynamic resonances of these novel magnetic states. After promoting the nucleation of the LTS by means of field cycling, we apply broadband microwave spectroscopy in two experimental geometries that provide either predominantly in-plane or out-of-plane excitation. By comparing the results to linear spin-wave theory, we clearly identify resonant modes associated with the tilted conical state, the gyrational and breathing modes associated with the LTS, as well as the hybridization of the breathing mode with a dark octupole gyration mode mediated by the magnetocrystalline anisotropies. Most intriguingly, our findings suggest that under decreasing fields the hexagonal skyrmion lattice becomes unstable with respect to an oblique deformation, reflected in the formation of elongated skyrmions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Aqeel
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Jan Sahliger
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Takuya Taniguchi
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Stefan Mändl
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Denis Mettus
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Helmuth Berger
- École Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Bauer
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Markus Garst
- Institut für Theoretische Festkörperphysik, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute for quantum materials and technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | | | - Christian H Back
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), D-80799 München, Germany
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Pöllath S, Aqeel A, Bauer A, Luo C, Ryll H, Radu F, Pfleiderer C, Woltersdorf G, Back CH. Ferromagnetic Resonance with Magnetic Phase Selectivity by Means of Resonant Elastic X-Ray Scattering on a Chiral Magnet. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:167201. [PMID: 31702336 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.167201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cubic chiral magnets, such as Cu_{2}OSeO_{3}, exhibit a variety of noncollinear spin textures, including a trigonal lattice of spin whirls, the so-called skyrmions. Using magnetic resonant elastic x-ray scattering (REXS) on a crystalline Bragg peak and its magnetic satellites while exciting the sample with magnetic fields at gigahertz frequencies, we probe the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) modes of these spin textures by means of the scattered intensity. Most notably, the three eigenmodes of the skyrmion lattice are detected with large sensitivity. As this novel technique, which we label REXS FMR, is carried out at distinct positions in reciprocal space, it allows us to distinguish contributions originating from different magnetic states, providing information on the precise character, weight, and mode mixing as a prerequisite of tailored excitations for applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Pöllath
- Institut für Experimentelle Physik, Universität Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - A Aqeel
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - A Bauer
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - C Luo
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien and Energie, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - H Ryll
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien and Energie, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - F Radu
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien and Energie, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - C Pfleiderer
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstraße 4, D-80799 München, Germany
| | - G Woltersdorf
- Institut für Physik, Universität Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - C H Back
- Institut für Experimentelle Physik, Universität Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
- Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstraße 4, D-80799 München, Germany
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Reciprocal space tomography of 3D skyrmion lattice order in a chiral magnet. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:6386-6391. [PMID: 29866823 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1803367115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It is commonly assumed that surfaces modify the properties of stable materials within the top few atomic layers of a bulk specimen only. Exploiting the polarization dependence of resonant elastic X-ray scattering to go beyond conventional diffraction and imaging techniques, we have determined the depth dependence of the full 3D spin structure of skyrmions-that is, topologically nontrivial whirls of the magnetization-below the surface of a bulk sample of Cu2OSeO3 We found that the skyrmions change exponentially from pure Néel- to pure Bloch-twisting over a distance of several hundred nanometers between the surface and the bulk, respectively. Though qualitatively consistent with theory, the strength of the Néel-twisting at the surface and the length scale of the variation observed experimentally exceed material-specific modeling substantially. In view of the exceptionally complete quantitative theoretical account of the magnetic rigidities and associated static and dynamic properties of skyrmions in Cu2OSeO3 and related materials, we conclude that subtle changes of the materials properties must exist at distances up to several hundred atomic layers into the bulk, which originate in the presence of the surface. This has far-reaching implications for the creation of skyrmions in surface-dominated systems and identifies, more generally, surface-induced gradual variations deep within a bulk material and their impact on tailored functionalities as an unchartered scientific territory.
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