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Measuring the formation energy barrier of skyrmions in zinc-substituted Cu2OSeO3

Wilson, M.N.; Crisanti, M.; Barker, C.; Štefančič, A.; White, J.S.; Birch, M.T.; Balakrishnan, G.; Cubitt, R.; Hatton, P.D.

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Authors

M.N. Wilson

M. Crisanti

C. Barker

A. Štefančič

J.S. White

M.T. Birch

G. Balakrishnan

R. Cubitt



Abstract

We report small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements of the skyrmion lattice in (Cu0.976Zn0.024 )2OSeO3 under the application of electric and magnetic fields. These measurements show an expansion of the skyrmion lattice stability region with electric field. Furthermore, using time-resolved SANS, we observe the slow formation of skyrmions after an electric or magnetic field is applied, which has not been observed in pristine Cu2OSeO3 crystals. The measured formation times are dramatically longer than the corresponding skyrmion annihilation times after the external field is removed, and increase exponentially from 100 s at 52.5 K to 10 000 s at 51.5 K. This thermally activated behavior indicates an energy barrier for skyrmion formation of 1.57(2) eV, the size of which demonstrates the huge cost for creating these complex chiral objects.

Citation

Wilson, M., Crisanti, M., Barker, C., Štefančič, A., White, J., Birch, M., Balakrishnan, G., Cubitt, R., & Hatton, P. (2019). Measuring the formation energy barrier of skyrmions in zinc-substituted Cu2OSeO3. Physical Review B, 99(17), Article 174421. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.99.174421

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date May 22, 2019
Publication Date May 1, 2019
Deposit Date May 24, 2019
Publicly Available Date May 24, 2019
Journal Physical Review B
Print ISSN 2469-9950
Electronic ISSN 2469-9969
Publisher American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 99
Issue 17
Article Number 174421
DOI https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.99.174421
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1295783

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Copyright Statement
Reprinted with permission from the American Physical Society: Wilson, M. N., Crisanti, M., Barker, C., Štefančič, A., White, J. S., Birch, M. T., Balakrishnan, G., Cubitt, R. & Hatton, P. D. (2019). Measuring the formation energy barrier of skyrmions in zinc-substituted Cu2OSeO3. Physical Review B 99(17): 174421 © 2019 by the American Physical Society. Readers may view, browse, and/or download material for temporary copying purposes only, provided these uses are for noncommercial personal purposes. Except as provided by law, this material may not be further reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, adapted, performed, displayed, published, or sold in whole or part, without prior written permission from the American Physical Society.






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