Formation process of skyrmion lattice domain boundaries: The role of grain boundaries

TL;DR

This study investigates how grain boundaries influence the formation of skyrmion lattice domain boundaries in FeGe, revealing that intersections of grains stabilize these boundaries, with simulations confirming their energetic favorability.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the role of grain boundaries in skyrmion lattice domain boundary formation, combining microscopy observations with micromagnetic simulations.

Findings

Grain boundaries and edges are crucial in stabilizing SkL domain boundaries.

SkL domain boundaries are lowest energy configurations at grain intersections.

Wide areas tend to form single SkL domains without boundaries.

Abstract

We report on the formation process of skyrmion lattice (SkL) domain boundaries in FeGe using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy and small-angle electron diffraction. We observed that grain boundaries and edges play an important role in the formation of SkL domain boundaries; The SkL domain boundary is stabilized at the intersection of two grains. A micromagnetic simulation using the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation revealed that the SkL domains separated by a boundary represent the lowest energy configuration. Conversely, in a wide area, SkL domain boundaries were not formed and SkL domains with different orientations rotated to form a single SkL domain.