Multistep topological transitions among meron and skyrmion crystals in a centrosymmetric magnet

Authors

H. Yoshimochi, R. Takagi, J. Ju, N. D. Khanh, H. Saito, H. Sagayama, H.Nakao, S. Itoh, Y. Tokura, T. Arima, S. Hayami, T. Nakajima, S. Seki

Abstract

Topological swirling spin textures, such as skyrmions and merons, have recently attracted much attention as potential building blocks for high-density magnetic information devices. Controlling the transformation between different types of these quasiparticles is an important challenge. To date, these transitions have mostly been limited to a few non-centrosymmetric systems, where they are driven by the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction. Here we demonstrate multistep topological transitions among a variety of meron and skyrmion crystal states in a centrosymmetric magnet GdRu₂Ge₂. These are governed by the competition between Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interactions at inequivalent wave vectors. These findings demonstrate that even a simple centrosymmetric magnet with competing interactions can be a promising material platform to realize a richer variety of magnetic quasiparticles with distinctive symmetry and topology, whose stability can be tuned by various external stimuli.

Nature Physics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-024-02445-9