Quantum Skyrmions in Frustrated Ferromagnets
We develop a quantum theory of magnetic skyrmions and antiskyrmions in a spin-1/2 Heisenberg magnet with frustrating next-nearest-neighbor interactions. Using exact diagonalization we show numerically that a quantum skyrmion exists as a stable many-magnon bound state and investigate its quantum numb...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Physical Review X |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.9.041063 |
| _version_ | 1818696192602669056 |
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| author | Vivek Lohani Ciarán Hickey Jan Masell Achim Rosch |
| author_facet | Vivek Lohani Ciarán Hickey Jan Masell Achim Rosch |
| author_sort | Vivek Lohani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We develop a quantum theory of magnetic skyrmions and antiskyrmions in a spin-1/2 Heisenberg magnet with frustrating next-nearest-neighbor interactions. Using exact diagonalization we show numerically that a quantum skyrmion exists as a stable many-magnon bound state and investigate its quantum numbers. We then derive a phenomenological Schrödinger equation for the quantum skyrmion and its internal degrees of freedom. We find that quantum skyrmions have highly unusual properties. Their bandwidth is exponentially small and arises from tunneling processes between skyrmion and antiskyrmion. The band structure changes both qualitatively and quantitatively when a single spin is added or removed from the quantum skyrmion, reflecting a locking of angular momentum and spin quantum numbers characteristic for skyrmions. Additionally, while for weak forces the quantum skyrmion is accelerated parallel to the force, it moves in a perpendicular direction for stronger fields. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T13:57:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d74aae254b04175a73d45b31eb666f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2160-3308 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T13:57:28Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review X |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d74aae254b04175a73d45b31eb666f92022-12-21T21:45:52ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review X2160-33082019-12-019404106310.1103/PhysRevX.9.041063Quantum Skyrmions in Frustrated FerromagnetsVivek LohaniCiarán HickeyJan MasellAchim RoschWe develop a quantum theory of magnetic skyrmions and antiskyrmions in a spin-1/2 Heisenberg magnet with frustrating next-nearest-neighbor interactions. Using exact diagonalization we show numerically that a quantum skyrmion exists as a stable many-magnon bound state and investigate its quantum numbers. We then derive a phenomenological Schrödinger equation for the quantum skyrmion and its internal degrees of freedom. We find that quantum skyrmions have highly unusual properties. Their bandwidth is exponentially small and arises from tunneling processes between skyrmion and antiskyrmion. The band structure changes both qualitatively and quantitatively when a single spin is added or removed from the quantum skyrmion, reflecting a locking of angular momentum and spin quantum numbers characteristic for skyrmions. Additionally, while for weak forces the quantum skyrmion is accelerated parallel to the force, it moves in a perpendicular direction for stronger fields.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.9.041063 |
| spellingShingle | Vivek Lohani Ciarán Hickey Jan Masell Achim Rosch Quantum Skyrmions in Frustrated Ferromagnets Physical Review X |
| title | Quantum Skyrmions in Frustrated Ferromagnets |
| title_full | Quantum Skyrmions in Frustrated Ferromagnets |
| title_fullStr | Quantum Skyrmions in Frustrated Ferromagnets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantum Skyrmions in Frustrated Ferromagnets |
| title_short | Quantum Skyrmions in Frustrated Ferromagnets |
| title_sort | quantum skyrmions in frustrated ferromagnets |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.9.041063 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT viveklohani quantumskyrmionsinfrustratedferromagnets AT ciaranhickey quantumskyrmionsinfrustratedferromagnets AT janmasell quantumskyrmionsinfrustratedferromagnets AT achimrosch quantumskyrmionsinfrustratedferromagnets |