{
  "id": "2007.08065",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2020-07-16T01:38:08.000Z",
  "updated": "2020-07-16T01:38:08.000Z",
  "title": "Stability of in-plane and out-of-plane chiral skyrmions in epitaxial MnSi(111)/Si(111) thin films: surface twists versus easy-plane anisotropy",
  "authors": [
    "Andrey O. Leonov",
    "Ivan M. Tambovtcev",
    "Igor S. Lobanov",
    "Valery M. Uzdin"
  ],
  "categories": [
    "cond-mat.mes-hall"
  ],
  "abstract": "The revisited theoretical phase diagrams for thin films of cubic helimagnets with the easy-plane anisotropy are shown to have different topology as previously reported [Phys. Rev. B 85, 094429 (2012)]. For both in-plane and out-of-plane directions of an applied magnetic field, the phase diagrams exhibit extensive areas of stable skyrmions, which overlap for a wide range of anisotropy parameters. Although the existence of the out-of-plane skyrmions was contradicted within the previous theoretical models, we prove that additional surface twists lead to their stability, while the moderate easy-plane anisotropy increases the stability range of in-plane skyrmions. Moreover, the interplay between the anisotropy and the surface twists gives rise to a stable spiral state canted with respect to the surfaces. Being absent in bulk helimagnets, this oblique spiral occupies vast areas at the phase diagrams in thin-film nanosystems and serves as a connecting-link between cones and helicoids. Our theory gives clear directions for renewed experimental studies of in-plane and out-of-plane skyrmions in epitaxial MnSi(111)/Si(111) thin films.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2020-07-16T01:38:08.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "thin films",
      "out-of-plane chiral skyrmions",
      "surface twists",
      "easy-plane anisotropy",
      "epitaxial mnsi"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 0,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable"
    }
  }
}