Real-Space Observation of Short-Period Cubic Lattice of Skyrmions in MnGe

Nano Lett. 2015 Aug 12;15(8):5438-42. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b02653. Epub 2015 Aug 3.

Abstract

Three-dimensional forms of skyrmion aggregate, such as a cubic lattice of skyrmions, are anticipated to exist, yet their direct observations remain elusive. Here, we report real-space observations of spin configurations of the skyrmion-antiskyrmion cubic-lattice in MnGe with a very short period (∼3 nm) and hence endowed with the largest skyrmion number density. The skyrmion lattices parallel to the {100} atomic lattices are directly observed using high-resolution Lorentz transmission electron microscopes, simultaneously with underlying atomic-lattice fringes.

Keywords: Lorentz microscopy; Skyrmion; short-period; three-dimensional structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't