Metastable skyrmion lattices governed by magnetic disorder and anisotropy in <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>β</mml:mi></mml:math>-Mn-type chiral magnets
Kosuke Karube, J. S. White, Victor Ukleev, C. D. Dewhurst, R. Cubitt, Akiko Kikkawa, Y. Tokunaga, H. M. Rønnow, Yoshinori Tokura, Y. Taguchi
Abstract
Co-Zn-Mn alloys with a $\ensuremath{\beta}$-Mn-type chiral structure host magnetic skyrmions - vortexlike topological spin textures - above room temperature. Here, the authors present a perspective view on robust metastable skyrmions and their lattice transformation, based on comprehensive studies of a series of the alloys in question including the Mn-free end member Co${}_{10}$Zn${}_{10}$. The lattice form of the skyrmions dramatically changes with temperature and Mn concentration. This is attributed to the cooperative interplay between magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetic disorder due to frustrated Mn spins.