Topological transition and emergent elasticity of dislocation in skyrmion lattice: Beyond Kittel's magnetic-polar analogy

TL;DR

This study uncovers how magnetic skyrmion dislocations undergo a topological transition with a core-split structure and follow classical elasticity theory, revealing fundamental differences from polar skyrmions and advancing understanding of skyrmion lattice mechanics.

Contribution

It demonstrates the topological transition and elastic behavior of skyrmion dislocations, highlighting the role of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in large skyrmion deformation.

Findings

Skyrmion dislocations develop a core-split structure with 180% elongation.

Long-range strain fields obey Volterra's elasticity theory.

Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction drives skyrmion deformation.

Abstract

Magnetic and polar skyrmions exhibit topologically protected quasiparticle behavior, including emergent fields, deformation, and the formation of a densely packed skyrmion lattice, beyond conventional domain configurations described by Kittel's law. Analogous to atomic crystals, lattice defects, especially dislocations and their associated strain fields, are crucial for understanding the lattice behavior of skyrmions; however, their features and roles remain insufficiently understood. Here, we show that magnetic skyrmion dislocations develop a core-split structure due to a significant skyrmion elongation up to 180% of their original length, reaching a topological transition from a single skyrmion to two half-skyrmions. Despite such a distinct structure, the long-range strain fields around the dislocation perfectly obey conventional Volterra's elasticity theory, in contrast to polar skyrmion lattices, where skyrmion deformations cause a breakdown of the elasticity theory. Furthermore, an energetic analysis shows that Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction drives the large skyrmion deformation of the dislocation core. Our findings not only clarify the coexistence of topological core-reconstruction and a robust long-range elastic field of dislocations in magnetic skyrmion lattices, but also reveal that magnetic and electric domains, long regarded as dual and analogous, exhibit fundamental differences when extended into the regime of collective topological quasiparticles.