Chiral paramagnetic skyrmion-like phase in MnSi

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 May 15;102(19):197202. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.197202. Epub 2009 May 15.

Abstract

We present a comprehensive study of chiral fluctuations in the reference helimagnet MnSi by polarized neutron scattering and neutron spin echo spectroscopy, which reveals the existence of a completely left-handed and dynamically disordered phase. This phase may be identified as a spontaneous Skyrmion phase: it appears in a limited temperature range just above the helical transition T_{C} and coexists with the helical phase at T_{C}.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Magnetics*
  • Manganese / chemistry*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Neutron Diffraction
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Manganese
  • Silicon