Universität zu Köln

Huang, Ping, Schonenberger, Thomas, Cantoni, Marco, Heinen, Lukas ORCID: 0000-0001-6638-7031, Magrez, Arnaud ORCID: 0000-0001-5933-7036, Rosch, Achim ORCID: 0000-0002-6586-5721, Carbone, Fabrizio and Ronnow, Henrik M. (2020). Melting of a skyrmion lattice to a skyrmion liquid via a hexatic phase. Nat. Nanotechnol., 15 (9). S. 761 - 779. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. ISSN 1748-3395

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Abstract

While in 3D materials melting is a single, first-order phase transition, in 2D systems, it can also proceed via an intermediate phase. For a skyrmion lattice in Cu2OSeO3, magnetic field variations can tune this quasiparticle 2D solid into a skyrmion liquid via an intermediate hexatic phase with short-range translational and quasi-long-range orientational order. The phase transition most commonly observed is probably melting, a transition from ordered crystalline solids to disordered isotropic liquids. In three dimensions, melting is a single, first-order phase transition. In two-dimensional systems, however, theory predicts a general scenario of two continuous phase transitions separated by an intermediate, oriented liquid state, the so-called hexatic phase with short-range translational and quasi-long-range orientational orders. Such hexatic phases occur in colloidal systems, Wigner solids and liquid crystals, all composed of real-matter particles. In contrast, skyrmions are countable soliton configurations with non-trivial topology and these quasi-particles can form two-dimensional lattices. Here we show, by direct imaging with cryo-Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, that magnetic field variations can tune the phase of the skyrmion ensembles in Cu(2)OSeO(3)from a two-dimensional solid through the long-speculated skyrmion hexatic phase to a liquid. The local spin order persists throughout the process. Remarkably, our quantitative analysis demonstrates that the aforementioned topological-defect-induced crystal melting scenario well describes the observed phase transitions.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Huang, Ping UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schonenberger, Thomas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Cantoni, Marco UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Heinen, Lukas UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-6638-7031 UNSPECIFIED Magrez, Arnaud UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-5933-7036 UNSPECIFIED Rosch, Achim UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-6586-5721 UNSPECIFIED Carbone, Fabrizio UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ronnow, Henrik M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-329965
DOI:	10.1038/s41565-020-0716-3
Journal or Publication Title:	Nat. Nanotechnol.
Volume:	15
Number:	9
Page Range:	S. 761 - 779
Date:	2020
Publisher:	NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	1748-3395
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Institute of Theoretical Chemistry
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language ORDER; DISORDER Multiple languages Nanoscience & Nanotechnology; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/32996