Hysteretic Responses of Skyrmion Lattices to Electric Fields in Magnetoelectric Cu₂OSeO₃.

Abstract

Electric field control of topologically nontrivial magnetic textures, such as skyrmions, provides a paradigm shift for future spintronics beyond the current silicon-based technology. While significant progress has been made by X-ray and neutron scattering studies, direct observation of such nanoscale spin structures and their dynamics driven by external electric fields remains a challenge in understanding the underlying mechanisms and harness functionalities. Here, using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy combined with <i>in situ</i> electric and magnetic fields at liquid helium temperatures, we report the crystallographic orientation-dependent skyrmion responses to electric fields in thin slabs of magnetoelectric Cu₂OSeO₃. We show that electric fields not only stabilize the hexagonally packed skyrmion lattices in the entire sample in a hysteretic manner but also induce the rotation of their reciprocal vector discretely by 30°. The nonvolatile and energy-efficient skyrmion lattice control by electric fields demonstrated in this work provides an important foundation for designing skyrmion-based qubits and memory devices.