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Observation of fluctuation-mediated picosecond nucleation of a topological phase

Topological states of matter exhibit fascinating physics combined with an intrinsic stability. A key challenge is the fast creation of topological phases, which requires massive reorientation of charge or spin degrees of freedom. Here we report the picosecond emergence of an extended topological pha...

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Main Authors: Büttner, Felix (Author) , Pfau, Bastian (Author) , Böttcher, Marie (Author) , Schneider, Michael (Author) , Mercurio, Giuseppe (Author) , Günther, Christian Michael (Author) , Hessing, Piet (Author) , Klose, Christopher (Author) , Wittmann, Angela (Author) , Gerlinger, Kathinka Sandrine (Author) , Kern, Lisa-Marie (Author) , Strüber, Christian (Author) , Korff Schmising, Clemens von (Author) , Fuchs, Josefin (Author) , Engel, Dieter (Author) , Churikova, Alexandra (Author) , Huang, Siying (Author) , Suzuki, Daniel (Author) , Lemesh, Ivan (Author) , Huang, Mantao (Author) , Caretta, Lucas (Author) , Weder, David (Author) , Gaida, John H. (Author) , Möller, Marcel (Author) , Harvey, Tyler R. (Author) , Zayko, Sergey (Author) , Bagschik, Kai (Author) , Carley, Robert (Author) , Mercadier, Laurent (Author) , Schlappa, Justine (Author) , Yaroslavtsev, Alexander (Author) , Le Guyarder, Loïc (Author) , Gerasimova, Natalia (Author) , Scherz, Andreas (Author) , Deiter, Carsten (Author) , Gort, Rafael (Author) , Hickin, David (Author) , Zhu, Jun (Author) , Turcato, Monica (Author) , Lomidze, David (Author) , Erdinger, Florian (Author) , Castoldi, Andrea (Author) , Maffessanti, Stefano (Author) , Porro, Matteo (Author) , Samartsev, Andrey (Author) , Sinova, Jairo (Author) , Ropers, Claus (Author) , Mentink, Johan H. (Author) , Dupé, Bertrand (Author) , Beach, Geoffrey S. D. (Author) , Eisebitt, Stefan (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: January 2021
In: Nature materials
Year: 2021, Volume: 20, Issue: 1, Pages: 30-37
ISSN:1476-4660
DOI:10.1038/s41563-020-00807-1
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-020-00807-1
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-020-00807-1
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Author Notes:Felix Büttner, Bastian Pfau, Marie Böttcher, Michael Schneider, Giuseppe Mercurio, Christian M. Günther, Piet Hessing, Christopher Klose, Angela Wittmann, Kathinka Gerlinger, Lisa-Marie Kern, Christian Strüber, Clemens von Korff Schmising, Josefin Fuchs, Dieter Engel, Alexandra Churikova, Siying Huang, Daniel Suzuki, Ivan Lemesh, Mantao Huang, Lucas Caretta, David Weder, John H. Gaida, Marcel Möller, Tyler R. Harvey, Sergey Zayko, Kai Bagschik, Robert Carley, Laurent Mercadier, Justine Schlappa, Alexander Yaroslavtsev, Loïc Le Guyarder, Natalia Gerasimova, Andreas Scherz, Carsten Deiter, Rafael Gort, David Hickin, Jun Zhu, Monica Turcato, David Lomidze, Florian Erdinger, Andrea Castoldi, Stefano Maffessanti, Matteo Porro, Andrey Samartsev, Jairo Sinova, Claus Ropers, Johan H. Mentink, Bertrand Dupé, Geoffrey S.D. Beach and Stefan Eisebitt
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Summary:Topological states of matter exhibit fascinating physics combined with an intrinsic stability. A key challenge is the fast creation of topological phases, which requires massive reorientation of charge or spin degrees of freedom. Here we report the picosecond emergence of an extended topological phase that comprises many magnetic skyrmions. The nucleation of this phase, followed in real time via single-shot soft X-ray scattering after infrared laser excitation, is mediated by a transient topological fluctuation state. This state is enabled by the presence of a time-reversal symmetry-breaking perpendicular magnetic field and exists for less than 300 ps. Atomistic simulations indicate that the fluctuation state largely reduces the topological energy barrier and thereby enables the observed rapid and homogeneous nucleation of the skyrmion phase. These observations provide fundamental insights into the nature of topological phase transitions, and suggest a path towards ultrafast topological switching in a wide variety of materials through intermediate fluctuating states.
Item Description:Online publiziert: 5. Oktober 2020
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Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1476-4660
DOI:10.1038/s41563-020-00807-1

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