TY - JOUR
T1 - Higher-order modulations in the skyrmion lattice phase of Cu2 OSeO3
AU - Reim, Johannes D.
AU - Matsuzaka, Shinnosuke
AU - Makino, Koya
AU - Aji, Seno
AU - Murasaki, Ryo
AU - Higashi, Daiki
AU - Okuyama, Daisuke
AU - Nambu, Yusuke
AU - Gilbert, Elliot P.
AU - Booth, Norman
AU - Seki, Shinichiro
AU - Tokura, Yoshinori
AU - Sato, Taku J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Physical Society.
PY - 2022/9/1
Y1 - 2022/9/1
N2 - Using small-angle neutron scattering, we have investigated higher-order peaks in the skyrmion-lattice phase of Cu2OSeO3 in which two different skyrmion lattices, SkX1 and SkX2, are known to form. For each skyrmion-lattice phase, we observed two sets of symmetrically inequivalent peaks at the higher-order-reflection positions with the indices (110) and (200). Under the condition where the SkX1 and SkX2 coexist, we confirmed the absence of the scattering at Q positions combining reflections from the two phases, indicating a significantly weak double-scattering component. Detailed analysis of the peak profile as well as the temperature and magnetic-field dependence of the peak intensity also supports the intrinsic higher-order modulation rather than the parasitic double scattering. The two higher-order modulations show contrasting magnetic-field dependence; the former (110) increases as the field is increased, whereas the latter (200) decreases. This indicates that, in Cu2OSeO3, skyrmions are weakly distorted, and the distortion is field dependent in a way that the dominant higher-order modulation switches from (110) to (200) under the field. Monte Carlo simulations under sweeping external magnetic field qualitatively reproduce the observed magnetic-field dependence and suggests that the higher-order modulations correspond to the superlattices of weak swirlings appearing in the middle of the original triangular-latticed skyrmions.
AB - Using small-angle neutron scattering, we have investigated higher-order peaks in the skyrmion-lattice phase of Cu2OSeO3 in which two different skyrmion lattices, SkX1 and SkX2, are known to form. For each skyrmion-lattice phase, we observed two sets of symmetrically inequivalent peaks at the higher-order-reflection positions with the indices (110) and (200). Under the condition where the SkX1 and SkX2 coexist, we confirmed the absence of the scattering at Q positions combining reflections from the two phases, indicating a significantly weak double-scattering component. Detailed analysis of the peak profile as well as the temperature and magnetic-field dependence of the peak intensity also supports the intrinsic higher-order modulation rather than the parasitic double scattering. The two higher-order modulations show contrasting magnetic-field dependence; the former (110) increases as the field is increased, whereas the latter (200) decreases. This indicates that, in Cu2OSeO3, skyrmions are weakly distorted, and the distortion is field dependent in a way that the dominant higher-order modulation switches from (110) to (200) under the field. Monte Carlo simulations under sweeping external magnetic field qualitatively reproduce the observed magnetic-field dependence and suggests that the higher-order modulations correspond to the superlattices of weak swirlings appearing in the middle of the original triangular-latticed skyrmions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138158480&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.106.104406
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.106.104406
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85138158480
SN - 2469-9950
VL - 106
JO - Physical Review B
JF - Physical Review B
IS - 10
M1 - 104406
ER -