Skyrmion Helicity: Quantization and Quantum Tunneling Effects

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the quantization of magnetic helicity in skyrmions within frustrated magnets and explores tunable quantum tunneling effects, suggesting potential for quantum information applications with topologically protected spin textures.

Contribution

It introduces the quantization of skyrmion helicity and analyzes quantum tunneling phenomena, providing a foundation for experimental realization of quantum effects in magnetic skyrmions.

Findings

Quantum tunneling between helicity states occurs within seconds below 100 mK for 5 nm skyrmions.

Energy splitting of skyrmion states is in the MHz regime.

Feasibility of quantum tunneling in magnetic spin ensembles opens new quantum platform possibilities.

Abstract

We derive the quantization of magnetic helicity in the solid-state and demonstrate tunable macroscopic quantum tunneling, coherence, and oscillation for a skyrmion spin texture stabilized in frustrated magnets. We also discuss the parameter space for the experimental realization of quantum effects. Typically, for a skyrmion of 5 nm radius, quantum tunneling between two macroscopic states with distinct helicities occurs with an inverse escape rate within seconds below 100 mK, and an energy splitting in the MHz regime. Feasibility of quantum tunneling of an ensemble of magnetic spins inspires new platforms for quantum operations utilizing topologically protected chiral spin configurations.