Magnetic skyrmion lattice disclinations in pentagon- and heptagon-shaped FeGe crystals

TL;DR

This study explores the formation and properties of disclinations in skyrmion lattices within pentagon- and heptagon-shaped FeGe nanocrystals, revealing new defect types and their magnetic and elastic characteristics.

Contribution

It reports the stabilization and analysis of five- and seven-fold disclinations in skyrmion lattices, a previously unexplored defect type in chiral magnetic materials.

Findings

Disclinations can be stabilized in FeGe nanocrystals.

Magnetic and elastic structures of disclinations are characterized.

Results are supported by simulations and analytical models.

Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions in chiral magnets typically arrange into hexagonal lattices, with their structural order influenced by factors such as temperature, external magnetic fields and geometric constraints. While translational defects in skyrmion lattices such as dislocations have been extensively studied, individual angular defects, or disclinations, remain largely unexplored. Here, we report on the stabilization of five-fold and seven-fold disclinations in pentagon- and heptagon-shaped FeGe nanocrystals created using focused ion beam milling. The magnetic and elastic structures of the disclinated lattices are investigated using Fresnel imaging and off-axis electron holography in a transmission electron microscope. The results are supported by micromagnetic simulations and analytical models based on linear elasticity theory.