Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
MA: Fachverband Magnetismus
MA 21: Skyrmions II
MA 21.6: Talk
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 15:15–15:30, HSZ/0004
Real-time observation of topological defect dynamics mediating two-dimensional skyrmion lattice melting — Raphael Gruber1, •Edoardo Mangini1, Maria-Andromachi Syskaki1, Elizabeth Jefremovas1, Sachin Krishnia1, Asle Sudbø2, Peter Virnau2, and Mathias Kläui1 — 1Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudingerweg 7, Mainz, Germany — 2Center for Quantum Spintronics, Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Magnetic skyrmions, topologically non-trivial chiral magnetic quasi-particles, can be stabilized in magnetic thin-film stacks [1]. By precisely controlling the externally applied in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields, two-dimensional dense arrays of skyrmions—so-called skyrmion lattices—can be formed [2]. Through suitable geometrical confinement, both orientational and translational order can be induced in these lattices. Such systems provide experimental insight into the dynamics of phase transitions in two-dimensional particle systems.
In this work, we show a two-step topological lattice-melting experiment, in which phase transitions are triggered in a skyrmion lattice by tuning the skyrmion size. The Kerr microscopy setup, in conjunction with machine learning approaches, enables real-time tracking of skyrmions, allowing us to investigate the emergence and dynamics of topological lattice defects throughout the phase transitions [3].
[1] K. Everschor-Sitte et al., J. Appl. Phys. 124, 24, 2018
[2] J. Zázvorka et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 30, 46, 2020
[3] R. Gruber et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 20, 10, 2025
Keywords: Skyrmions; Lattice; Topological melting