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arXiv · 1603.03688

Skyrmions in square-lattice antiferromagnets

Rick Keesman·Mark Raaijmakers·A. E. Baerends·G. T. Barkema·R. A. Duine
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Abstract

The ground states of square lattice two-dimensional antiferromagnets with anisotropy in an external magnetic field are determined using Monte Carlo simulations and compared to theoretical analysis. We find a new phase in between the spin-flop and spiral phase that shows strong similarity to skyrmions in ferromagnetic thin films. We show that this phase arises as a result of the competition between Zeeman and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction energies of the magnetic system. Moreover, we find that isolated (anti-)skyrmions are stabilized in finite-sized systems, even at higher temperatures. The existence of thermodynamically stable skyrmions in square-lattice antiferromagnets provides an appealing alternative over skyrmions in ferromagnets as data carriers.

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Rick Keesman, Mark Raaijmakers, A. E. Baerends, G. T. Barkema, R. A. Duine. 2016-03-11. Skyrmions in square-lattice antiferromagnets. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.94.054402

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