2016/01/31 by Jan Müller, Achim Rosch, Markus Garst · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.str-el #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/1367-2630/18/6/065006
published as New J. Phys. 18, 065006 (2016) · 10 pages, 8 figures; (v2) minor corrections, published version
arxiv created 2017/02/13 · arxiv updated 2017/02/14
We study both analytically and numerically the edge of two-dimensional ferromagnets with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interactions, considering both chiral magnets and magnets with interface-induced DM interactions. We show that in the field-polarized ferromagnetic phase magnon states exist which are bound to the edge, and we calculate their spectra within a continuum field theory. Upon lowering an external magnetic field, these bound magnons condense at a finite momentum and the edge becomes locally unstable. Micromagnetic simulations demonstrate that this edge instability triggers the creation of a helical phase which penetrates the field-polarized state within the bulk. A subsequent increase of the magnetic field allows to create skyrmions close to the edge in a controlled manner.