Exploring the magnetic correlations in new skyrmion hosting systems

Magnetic skyrmions are topological protected spin textures with particle-like properties and nano-scale dimensions. In cubic bulk magnets, in the absence of a centre of symmetry, skyrmions are stabilized by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and occur spontaneously in a small pocket of the magnetic field - temperature, just below the transition temperature Tc. Recent theoretical studies showed that skyrmions can also exist in magnets with conventional centrosymmetric crystal lattices. We have identified a series of systems, that could potentially host skyrmions and are in the process of synthesising them. Besides lab-based characterisation, such as X-rays and SQUID magnetisation measurements, SANS measurements are required to give the final answer concerning the nature of the magnetic correlations and the stabilisation of skyrmions.