Observation of fluctuation-mediated picosecond nucleation of a topological phase

Buettner F, Pfau B, Boettcher M, Schneider M, Mercurio G, Guenther CM, Hessing P, Klose C, Wittmann A, Gerlinger K, Kern LM, Strueber C, Von Korff Schmising C, Fuchs J, Engel D, Churikova A, Huang S, Suzuki D, Lemesh I, Huang M, Caretta L, Weder D, Gaida JH, Moeller M, Harvey TR, Zayko S, Bagschik K, Carley R, Mercadier L, Schlappa J, Yaroslavtsev A, Le Guyarder L, Gerasimova N, Scherz A, Deiter C, Gort R, Hickin D, Zhu J, Turcato M, Lomidze D, Erdinger F, Castoldi A, Maffessanti S, Porro M, Samartsev A, Sinova J, Ropers C, Mentink JH, Dupe B, Beach GSD, Eisebitt S (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Nature Materials Nature Publishing Group

Book Volume: 20

Pages Range: 30-37

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41563-020-00807-1

Abstract

Topological states of matter exhibit fascinating physics combined with an intrinsic stability. A key challenge is the fast creation of topological phases, which requires massive reorientation of charge or spin degrees of freedom. Here we report the picosecond emergence of an extended topological phase that comprises many magnetic skyrmions. The nucleation of this phase, followed in real time via single-shot soft X-ray scattering after infrared laser excitation, is mediated by a transient topological fluctuation state. This state is enabled by the presence of a time-reversal symmetry-breaking perpendicular magnetic field and exists for less than 300 ps. Atomistic simulations indicate that the fluctuation state largely reduces the topological energy barrier and thereby enables the observed rapid and homogeneous nucleation of the skyrmion phase. These observations provide fundamental insights into the nature of topological phase transitions, and suggest a path towards ultrafast topological switching in a wide variety of materials through intermediate fluctuating states.

Involved external institutions

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) DE Germany (DE) Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. / Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy DE Germany (DE) European XFEL GmbH DE Germany (DE) Technische Universität Berlin DE Germany (DE) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) US United States (USA) (US) Georg-August-Universität Göttingen DE Germany (DE) Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY DE Germany (DE) Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Politecnico di Milano IT Italy (IT) Radboud University Nijmegen NL Netherlands (NL)

How to cite

APA:

Buettner, F., Pfau, B., Boettcher, M., Schneider, M., Mercurio, G., Guenther, C.M.,... Eisebitt, S. (2021). Observation of fluctuation-mediated picosecond nucleation of a topological phase. Nature Materials, 20(1), 30-37. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41563-020-00807-1

MLA:

Buettner, Felix, et al. "Observation of fluctuation-mediated picosecond nucleation of a topological phase." Nature Materials 20.1 (2021): 30-37.

BibTeX: Download