Non-Abelian Vortices in Magnets

Abstract

We show that non-Abelian vortices can exist in magnetic materials. These are singularity-free textures, are described by spin-lattice and field theory models, and we demonstrate that typical magnetic materials can be quite suitable for their realization and observation. We give a topological classification of these vortices and reveal their connection with Abelian topological structures, such as usual vortices, merons and skyrmions. We also describe how non-Abelian magnetic vortices can carry topologically protected information and present reasons for the advantage of such information carriers, as compared to Abelian entities.