Reversible "triple-Q" elastic field structures in a chiral magnet

TL;DR

This paper analytically derives the elastic field structures in chiral magnets with skyrmions, revealing a reversible 'triple-Q' pattern change under magnetic field variation, which is key for skyrmion-based device design.

Contribution

It provides the first analytical solution for periodic elastic fields in chiral magnets with skyrmions, showing configurational reversals of 'triple-Q' structures under magnetic fields.

Findings

Discovered reversible 'triple-Q' elastic structures in skyrmions.

Identified the impact of magnetic field on elastic pattern reversal.

Provided fundamental insights into skyrmion mechanical properties.

Abstract

The analytical solution of the periodic elastic field in chiral magnets caused by presence of periodically distributed eigenstrains is obtained. For the skyrmion phase, both the periodic displacement field and the stress field are composed of three "triple-Q" structures with different wave numbers. We find that for increasing external magnetic field, one type of "triple-Q" displacement structure and stress structure undergo a configurational reversal, where the initial and the final field configuration share similar pattern but with opposite direction of all the field vectors. This result is enlightening for designing novel skyrmion-based data-storage devices and microwave applications. The solution obtained is of fundamental significance for understanding the emergent mechanical properties of skyrmions in chiral magnets.