Transformations from stripy states to skyrmion crystals

Abstract

Stripy states, consisting of a collection of stripy spin textures, are the precursors of skyrmion crystals (SkXs). Common belief is that stripy states and SkXs are topologically unconnected, and transitions between SkXs and stripy states are phase transitions. Here, we show that both stripy states and SkXs are skyrmion condensates and they are topologically equivalent. By gradually tuning the stripe whose width goes from smaller than to larger than skyrmion-skyrmion separation, the structure of a skyrmion condensate transforms smoothly and continuously from various stripy phases, including helical states and mazes, to crystals, showing that stripy states are topologically connected to SkXs.