Transverse field muon-spin rotation measurement of the topological anomaly in a thin film of MnSi

TL;DR

This study uses transverse-field muon-spin rotation to investigate magnetic phases in a thin MnSi film, revealing complex magnetic textures and phase transitions distinct from bulk behavior.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the magnetic phase diagram of MnSi thin films, showing the presence of multiple magnetic textures beyond the cone phase.

Findings

Identification of magnetic transitions at approximately 40 K and 30 K.

Evidence for magnetic textures other than the cone phase in thin films.

Changes in the magnetic field distribution detected by muon-spin rotation.

Abstract

We present the results of transverse-field muon-spin rotation measurements on an epitaxially grown 40 nm-thick film of MnSi on Si(111) in the region of the field-temperature phase diagram where a skyrmion phase has been observed in the bulk. We identify changes in the quasistatic magnetic field distribution sampled by the muon, along with evidence for magnetic transitions around $T\approx 40$ K and 30 K. Our results suggest that the cone phase is not the only magnetic texture realized in film samples for out-of-plane fields.