Formation and rotation of skyrmion crystal in the chiral-lattice insulator Cu2OSeO3
Abstract
Small angle neutron scattering experiments were performed on a bulk single crystal of chiral-lattice multiferroic insulator Cu2OSeO3. In the absence of an external magnetic field, helical spin order with magnetic modulation vector q <001> was identified. When a magnetic field is applied, a triple-q magnetic structure emerges normal to the field in the A-phase just below the magnetic ordering temperature Tc, which suggests the formation of a triangular lattice of skyrmions. Notably, the favorable q-direction in the A-phase changes from q <110> to q <001> upon approaching Tc. Near the phase boundary between these two states, the external magnetic field induces a 30-rotation of the skyrmion lattice. This suggests a delicate balance between the magnetic anisotropy and the spin texture near Tc, such that even a small perturbation significantly affects the ordering pattern of the skyrmions.
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