Observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge by small-angle neutron scattering
Abstract Incommensurate magnetic phases in chiral cubic crystals are an established source of topological spin textures such as skyrmion and hedgehog lattices, with potential applications in spintronics and information storage. We report a comprehensive small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study on...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86652-1 |
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| author | Victor Ukleev Tapas Samanta Oleg I. Utesov Jonathan S. White Luana Caron |
| author_facet | Victor Ukleev Tapas Samanta Oleg I. Utesov Jonathan S. White Luana Caron |
| author_sort | Victor Ukleev |
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| description | Abstract Incommensurate magnetic phases in chiral cubic crystals are an established source of topological spin textures such as skyrmion and hedgehog lattices, with potential applications in spintronics and information storage. We report a comprehensive small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study on the B20-type chiral magnet Cr $$_{0.82}$$ Mn $$_{0.18}$$ Ge, exploring its magnetic phase diagram and confirming the stabilization of a skyrmion lattice under low magnetic fields. Our results reveal a helical ground state with a decreasing pitch from 40 to 35 nm upon cooling, and a skyrmion phase stable in applied magnetic fields of 10–30 mT, and over an unusually wide temperature range for chiral magnets of 6 K ( $$\sim T_\text {C}/2< T < T_\text {C}$$ , $$T_\text {C}=13$$ K). The skyrmion lattice forms a standard two-dimensional hexagonal coordination that can be trained into a single domain, distinguishing it from the three-dimensional hedgehog lattice observed in MnGe-based systems. Additionally, we demonstrate the persistence of a metastable SkL at 2 K, even at zero field. These findings advance our understanding of magnetic textures in Cr-based B20 compounds, highlighting Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge as a promising material for further exploration in topological magnetism. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-23fc07f200ad4305a80c56f27f3257d7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-23fc07f200ad4305a80c56f27f3257d72025-01-26T12:30:48ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-011511710.1038/s41598-025-86652-1Observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge by small-angle neutron scatteringVictor Ukleev0Tapas Samanta1Oleg I. Utesov2Jonathan S. White3Luana Caron4Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und EnergieDepartment of Physics, Bielefeld UniversityCenter for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems, Institute for Basic ScienceLaboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging (LNS), PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences, Paul Scherrer InstituteHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und EnergieAbstract Incommensurate magnetic phases in chiral cubic crystals are an established source of topological spin textures such as skyrmion and hedgehog lattices, with potential applications in spintronics and information storage. We report a comprehensive small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study on the B20-type chiral magnet Cr $$_{0.82}$$ Mn $$_{0.18}$$ Ge, exploring its magnetic phase diagram and confirming the stabilization of a skyrmion lattice under low magnetic fields. Our results reveal a helical ground state with a decreasing pitch from 40 to 35 nm upon cooling, and a skyrmion phase stable in applied magnetic fields of 10–30 mT, and over an unusually wide temperature range for chiral magnets of 6 K ( $$\sim T_\text {C}/2< T < T_\text {C}$$ , $$T_\text {C}=13$$ K). The skyrmion lattice forms a standard two-dimensional hexagonal coordination that can be trained into a single domain, distinguishing it from the three-dimensional hedgehog lattice observed in MnGe-based systems. Additionally, we demonstrate the persistence of a metastable SkL at 2 K, even at zero field. These findings advance our understanding of magnetic textures in Cr-based B20 compounds, highlighting Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge as a promising material for further exploration in topological magnetism.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86652-1 |
| spellingShingle | Victor Ukleev Tapas Samanta Oleg I. Utesov Jonathan S. White Luana Caron Observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge by small-angle neutron scattering Scientific Reports |
| title | Observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge by small-angle neutron scattering |
| title_full | Observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge by small-angle neutron scattering |
| title_fullStr | Observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge by small-angle neutron scattering |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge by small-angle neutron scattering |
| title_short | Observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in Cr0.82Mn0.18Ge by small-angle neutron scattering |
| title_sort | observation of magnetic skyrmion lattice in cr0 82mn0 18ge by small angle neutron scattering |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86652-1 |
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