Megahertz dynamics in skyrmion systems probed with muon-spin relaxation

Hicken, T.J.; Wilson, M.N.; Franke, K.J.A.; Huddart, B.M.; Hawkhead, Z.; Gomilšek, M.; Clark, S.J.; Pratt, F.L.; Štefančič, A.; Hall, A.E.; Ciomaga Hatnean, M.; Balakrishnan, G.; Lancaster, T.

doi:10.1103/physrevb.103.024428

Megahertz dynamics in skyrmion systems probed with muon-spin relaxation

Hicken, T.J.; Wilson, M.N.; Franke, K.J.A.; Huddart, B.M.; Hawkhead, Z.; Gomilšek, M.; Clark, S.J.; Pratt, F.L.; Štefančič, A.; Hall, A.E.; Ciomaga Hatnean, M.; Balakrishnan, G.; Lancaster, T.

Authors

T.J. Hicken

M.N. Wilson

K.J.A. Franke

Benjamin Huddart benjamin.m.huddart@durham.ac.uk
Academic Visitor

Z. Hawkhead

M. Gomilšek

S.J. Clark

F.L. Pratt

A. Štefančič

A.E. Hall

M. Ciomaga Hatnean

G. Balakrishnan

Professor Tom Lancaster tom.lancaster@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

We present longitudinal-field muon-spin relaxation (LF μ SR ) measurements on two systems that stabilize a skyrmion lattice (SkL): Cu 2 OSeO 3 , and Co x Zn y Mn 20 − x − y for ( x , y ) = ( 10 , 10 ) , (8, 9), and (8, 8). We find that the SkL phase of Cu 2 OSeO 3 exhibits emergent dynamic behavior at megahertz frequencies, likely due to collective excitations, allowing the SkL to be identified from the μ SR response. From measurements following different cooling protocols and calculations of the muon stopping site, we suggest that the metastable SkL is not the majority phase throughout the bulk of this material at the fields and temperatures where it is often observed. The dynamics of bulk Co 8 Zn 9 Mn 3 are well described by ≃ 2 GHz excitations that reduce in frequency near the critical temperature, while in Co 8 Zn 8 Mn 4 we observe similar behavior over a wide range of temperatures, implying that dynamics of this kind persist beyond the SkL phase.

Citation

Hicken, T., Wilson, M., Franke, K., Huddart, B., Hawkhead, Z., Gomilšek, M., …Lancaster, T. (2021). Megahertz dynamics in skyrmion systems probed with muon-spin relaxation. Physical Review B, 103(2), https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.103.024428

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Dec 14, 2020
Online Publication Date	Jan 19, 2021
Publication Date	2021
Deposit Date	Feb 4, 2021
Publicly Available Date	Sep 23, 2021
Journal	Physical review B: Condensed matter and materials physics
Print ISSN	2469-9950
Electronic ISSN	2469-9969
Publisher	American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	103
Issue	2
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.103.024428
Related Public URLs	https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.10330

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Copyright Statement
Reprinted with permission from the American Physical Society: Hicken, T. J., Wilson, M. N., Franke, K. J. A., Huddart, B. M., Hawkhead, Z., Gomilšek, M., Clark, S. J., Pratt, F. L., Štefančič, A., Hall, A. E., Ciomaga Hatnean, M., Balakrishnan, G. & Lancaster, T. (2021). Megahertz dynamics in skyrmion systems probed with muon-spin relaxation. Physical Review B 103(2). © 2021 by the American Physical Society. Readers may view, browse, and/or download material for temporary copying purposes only, provided these uses are for noncommercial personal purposes. Except as provided by law, this material may not be further reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, adapted, performed, displayed, published, or sold in whole or part, without prior written permission from the American Physical Society.