A spin model for intrinsic antiferromagnetic skyrmions on a triangular lattice

Abstract

Skyrmions are prospected as the potential future of data storage due to their topologically protected spin structures. However, traditional ferromagnetic (FM) skyrmions experience deflection when driven with an electric current, hindering their usage in spintronics. Antiferromagnetic (AFM) skyrmions, consisting of two FM solitons coupled antiferromagnetically, are predicted to have zero Magnus force, making them promising candidates for spintronic racetrack memories. Currently, they have been stabilized in synthetic AFM structures, i.e., multilayers hosting FM skyrmions, which couple antiferromagnetically through a non-magnetic spacer, while recent first-principle simulations predict their emergence in an intrinsic form, within a row-wise AFM single monolayer of Cr deposited on a PdFe bilayer grown on Ir (111) surfaces. The latter material forms a triangular lattice, where single and interlinked AFM skyrmions can be stabilized. Here, we explore the minimal Heisenberg model, enabling the occurrence of such AFM solitons and the underlying phase diagrams by accounting for the interplay between the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya and Heisenberg exchange interactions, as well as the magnetic anisotropy and impact of the magnetic field. By providing the fundamental basis to identify and understand the behavior of intrinsic AFM skyrmions, we anticipate our model to become a powerful tool for exploring and designing new topological magnetic materials to conceptualize devices for AFM spintronics.