Emergent reactance induced by the deformation of a current-driven skyrmion lattice

TL;DR

The study shows that the deformation of a skyrmion lattice in MnSi causes a delay in voltage response, leading to a new type of emergent reactance in spintronic devices.

Contribution

The paper reports the first observation of emergent reactance in a skyrmion lattice due to its internal deformation.

Findings

Voltage response delay in Hall effect and resistivity is observed in MnSi skyrmion lattices.

Skyrmion deformation leads to inertial dynamics and emergent reactance.

Internal deformation degrees of freedom are key for efficient emergent reactance generation.

Abstract

Classical electromagnetism forms the foundation of modern technology. In condensed matter systems, the Berry phase acquired by conduction electrons acts as an emergent electromagnetic field, facilitating phenomena analogous to classical electromagnetism, such as the Lorentz force and electromagnetic induction, and paving the way for next-generation spintronics. Magnetic skyrmions, spin vortices with non-trivial topology, serve as a key platform for such devices. For example, non-trivial transport responses are recognised as being induced by the emergent Lorentz force and the emergent electromagnetic induction. Despite remarkable progress in skyrmion physics, emergent reactance, in which the phase of an applied AC current is modified by emergent electromagnetism, has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we report emergent reactance in a micro-fabricated device of the prototypical skyrmion-hosting material, MnSi. Our findings reveal that the internal deformation degrees of freedom in skyrmions are an important factor for efficient generation of the emergent reactance.

From lock-in transport measurements of a skyrmion lattice in MnSi, the authors find a delay in the voltage response of the Hall effect and resistivity, arguing that its deformation leads to inertial skyrmion lattice dynamics and emergent reactance.

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