Skyrmions induced by dissipationless drag in U(1)xU(1) superconductors

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that strong intercomponent drag in multicomponent superconductors leads to skyrmionic topological defects, which can be experimentally identified through unique magnetization behaviors, offering insights into the nature of p-wave superconductivity.

Contribution

It reveals the formation of skyrmionic defects induced by dissipationless drag in U(1)xU(1) superconductors and characterizes their magnetic signatures.

Findings

Skyrmions form in strong intercomponent drag regimes.

Skyrmions exhibit dipolar inter-skyrmion forces.

Magnetization processes reveal skyrmionic topological charge.

Abstract

Rather generically, multicomponent superconductors and superfluids have intercomponent current-current interaction. We show that in superconductors with substantially strong intercomponent drag interaction, the topological defects which form in external field are characterized by a skyrmionic topological charge. We then demonstrate that they can be distinguished from ordinary vortex matter by a very characteristic magnetization process due to the dipolar nature of inter-skyrmion forces. The results provide an experimental signature to confirm or rule out the formation $p$-wave state with reduced spin stiffness in $p$-wave superconductors.