# Field-induced pseudo-skyrmion phase in the antiferromagnetic kagome lattice

## TL;DR

This paper uncovers a stable pseudo-skyrmion phase in a frustrated kagome antiferromagnet under magnetic field, characterized by a topological order parameter and distinct magnetic textures, expanding understanding of topological phases in magnetic systems.

## Contribution

It introduces the discovery of a pseudo-skyrmion phase in kagome antiferromagnets, characterized by a unique lattice arrangement and topological properties, under specific magnetic conditions.

## Key findings

- Identification of a stable pseudo-skyrmion phase over a broad parameter range.
- Characterization of the phase using scalar chirality as a topological order parameter.
- Observation of non-coplanar, chiral magnetic textures with polarized edges.

## Abstract

We study the effects of an in-plane Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction under an external magnetic field in the highly frustrated kagome antiferromagnet. We focus on the low-temperature phase diagram, which we obtain through extensive Monte-Carlo simulations. We show that, given the geometric frustration of the lattice, highly non trivial phases emerge. At low fields, lowering the temperature from a cooperative paramagnet phase, the kagome elementary plaquettes form non-coplanar arrangements with non-zero chirality, retaining a partial degeneracy. As the field increases, there is a transition from this "locally chiral phase" to an interpenetrated spiral phase with broken $\mathcal{Z}_{3}$ symmetry. Furthermore, we identify a quasi-skyrmion phase in a large portion of the magnetic phase diagram, which we characterize with a topological order parameter, the scalar chirality by triangular sublattice. This pseudo-skyrmion phase (pSkX) consists of a crystal arrangement of three interpenetrated non-Bravais lattices of skyrmion-like textures, but with a non-(fully)-polarized core. The edges of these pseudo-skyrmions remain polarized with the field, as the cores are progressively canted. Results show that this pseudo-skyrmion phase is stable up to the lowest simulated temperatures, and for a broad range of magnetic fields.