Interplay between quantum anomalous Hall effect and magnetic skyrmions.

Li, Yang; Xu, Shengnan; Wang, Jianfeng; Wang, Chong; Yang, Baishun; Lin, Haiqing; Duan, Wenhui; Huang, Bing · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2022

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

SignificanceQuantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) and magnetic skyrmion (SK), as two typical topological states in momentum (<i>K</i>) and real (<i>R</i>) spaces, attract much interest in condensed matter physics. However, the interplay between these two states remains to be explored. We propose that the interplay between QAHE and SK may generate an <i>RK</i> joint topological skyrmion (<i>RK</i>-SK), characterized by the SK surrounded by nontrivial chiral boundary states (CBSs). Furthermore, the emerging external field-tunable CBS in <i>RK</i>-SK could create additional degrees of freedom for SK manipulations, beyond the traditional SK. Meanwhile, external field can realize a rare topological phase transition between <i>K</i> and <i>R</i> spaces. Our work opens avenues for exploring unconventional quantum states and topological phase transitions in different spaces.